Mercedes-Benz Might Opt To Enter Formula E Championship In Season Five
Ameya Naik
1 min read
Oct 04, 2016, 10:09 PM
Key Highlights
- Mercedes have taken an option to enter the FIA Formula E Championship
- Mercedes may enter Formula E from the 2018/19 season
- The current format of two cars per driver will change soon
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd and Formula E Operations Ltd have signed an agreement by which Mercedes have taken an option to enter the FIA Formula E Championship in season five. As per the option agreement, Mercedes may choose to be one of the maximum of 12 entries to be proposed by the championship promoter to the FIA to enter from the 2018/19 season.
Mercedes could take one of the two new entries that will be allocated in season five - subject to approval of the FIA - when the all-electric racing series goes from the current format of two cars per driver, to a single car for the entire event. The change in format will see more technology pouring into this racing series and it'll be great to see the participation going up. Jaguar has already kick started its innings in the Formula E Championship and Mercedes' interest will only add to the existing competition. Mercedes is already reigning supreme in this season of Formula One, which is why it's looking to conquer all the mountains.
The current 10 teams in Formula E are all expected to continue in season five and beyond in their existing format, or joining forces with other OEM's. Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: "Having the chance to include a brand like Mercedes in our championship in the future would be a major boost to achieve that objective. Formula E is becoming an exciting mix of consolidated manufacturers like Renault, Citroen-DS, Audi, Mahindra or Jaguar, and new futuristic brands like Faraday Future, NextEV, or the likes of major component manufacturers like Schaeffler and ZF. Mercedes would be a great addition to that growing line-up."
Mercedes EQ Concept Car
Mind you, this announcement comes soon after Mercedes revealed its all-electric sub-brand EQ at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The approach then is simple, as we've seen with Formula One; technology used in race cars will trickle down to the production vehicles and this is without doubt a brilliant move by Mercedes.
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said: "We have been watching the growth of Formula E with great interest. 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."
Mercedes could take one of the two new entries that will be allocated in season five - subject to approval of the FIA - when the all-electric racing series goes from the current format of two cars per driver, to a single car for the entire event. The change in format will see more technology pouring into this racing series and it'll be great to see the participation going up. Jaguar has already kick started its innings in the Formula E Championship and Mercedes' interest will only add to the existing competition. Mercedes is already reigning supreme in this season of Formula One, which is why it's looking to conquer all the mountains.
The current 10 teams in Formula E are all expected to continue in season five and beyond in their existing format, or joining forces with other OEM's. Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: "Having the chance to include a brand like Mercedes in our championship in the future would be a major boost to achieve that objective. Formula E is becoming an exciting mix of consolidated manufacturers like Renault, Citroen-DS, Audi, Mahindra or Jaguar, and new futuristic brands like Faraday Future, NextEV, or the likes of major component manufacturers like Schaeffler and ZF. Mercedes would be a great addition to that growing line-up."
Mind you, this announcement comes soon after Mercedes revealed its all-electric sub-brand EQ at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The approach then is simple, as we've seen with Formula One; technology used in race cars will trickle down to the production vehicles and this is without doubt a brilliant move by Mercedes.
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said: "We have been watching the growth of Formula E with great interest. 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."
Related News
Popular Mercedes-Benz Models
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jul 23, 2026Kia Syros EV Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 13.49 LakhOffered with two battery pack options, the electric SUV delivers a claimed range of up to 526 km and comes with features such as DC fast charging, Level 2 ADAS and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L).1 min read
Jafar Rizvi | Jul 23, 20262026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza Bags 5 Stars In Bharat NCAP Crash TestsMaruti’s heavyweight has managed to achieve 30.41/32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection.2 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Jul 23, 2026Mercedes-AMG E 53 Plug-In Hybrid Launched In India At Rs 1.45 CroreThe performance sedan packs a six-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor to deliver nearly 600 bhp.3 mins read
car&bike Team | Jul 23, 2026Honda To Showcase Multiple Products On July 24; To Be Made in Indiacar&bike has learnt that at least 5-6 new products will be showcased, including the Honda Rebel 300, Honda ADV 160, CRF300L, Honda CB500 Hornet and CB500R. All of these will be made in India, although prices will be announced later.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 23, 2026Indian Motorcycle Unveils Limited-Edition Signature Series For PowerPlus Line-upIndian Motorcycle has introduced the Signature Series, an ultra-exclusive collection of four premium touring motorcycles based on its PowerPlus platform.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 22, 2026Simple Energy To Unveil Its First Family Electric Scooter On September 2Simple Energy is set to enter India's family electric scooter segment with the debut of an all-new model on September 2.1 min read
Girish Karkera | Jul 23, 2026Mercedes-AMG E53 4MATIC+ PHEV First Drive Review: Just What The Doctor OrderedThere are luxury cars and there are high-performance cars. But what if you want both for the price of one? Mercedes-Benz has a recommendation that promises to tread a fine line between the two – the second generation E53 with a twist.7 mins read
Shams Raza Naqvi | Jul 15, 2026Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider Driven: Rs. 11.25 Crore Meets 1,000 bhpWe got behind the wheel of the most powerful convertible from Ferrari. What makes the 849 Testarossa Spider Special? We tell you.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 12, 2026Tata Sierra EV Review: Reborn In The Electric AgeThe Tata Sierra EV isn’t drastically different from its ICE counterpart when it comes to design. But being the seventh electric offering from the Indian brand, it has gotten a few things right, and very few things wrong. But is it a compelling package to buy?5 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Jul 13, 2026TVS Orbiter Long-Term Review (Report 1): Settling In Takes TimeFirst impressions weren't the strongest, but the Orbiter has made a mark in its first month in the car&bike garage.5 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jul 7, 2026Tata Altroz Petrol DCA Long-Term Review: Intercity & Highway Driving ReportWe tested the Tata Altroz Petro DCA’s highway manners, intercity performance, and real-world fuel efficiency.1 min read