Mercedes-AMG Petronas has dominated Formula One during the hybrid era, so it makes perfect sense for the brand to compete in the all-electric series Formula E.
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. — the company that runs Merc’s F1 operation — and Formula E Operations Ltd. reached an agreement, which grants the German manufacturer the right to one of the two entries that will be added in Season 5, the series announced on Tuesday.
“We have been watching the growth of Formula E with great interest,” Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport said, via Formula E. “At the current time, we are looking at all the options available in the future of motor racing, and we are very pleased with an agreement that secures us an opportunity to enter the series in season five. Electrification will play a major role in the future of the automotive industry — racing has always been a technology R&D platform for the motor industry, and this will make Formula E very relevant in the future.”
Now entering its third season, Formula E has attracted many major OEMs like Audi, Renault, Citroen-DS and Jaguar.
“We are delighted to confirm that we have reserved one of our two new entries in season five for (Mercedes-Benz),” Alejandro Agag, Formula E CEO said in a statement. “Formula E wants to become the platform where car manufacturers test and develop the technologies that they will then introduce on their road cars. Having the chance to include a brand like Mercedes in our championship in the future would be a major boost to achieve that objective.”
The announcement comes less than one week after Mercedes revealed its new EQ sub-brand, which it says will produce 10 new electric cars by 2025, via Top Gear.
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Thumbnail photo via Mercedes-AMG Petronas