Mercedes has revealed that it will be pulling out of the DTM series to join Formula E after the 2018 Season. This will mean that the German car giant will join the field for the 2019-20 Season.
Mercedes to join Formula E in 2019
There has been a lot of speculation regarding Mercedes joining the all-electric Formula E series, having had the option to join since last year. Its official entry however, was not confirmed until this week, and although it was planned that Mercedes would be on the grid for the 2018-19 Season, the German car manufacturer has deferred its entry to the sport by one year.
Talking about Mercedes’ upcoming venture in a new motorsport series, Toto Wolff commented: “In motorsport like in every other area, we want to be the benchmark in the premium segment and to explore innovative new projects. The combination of Formula 1 and Formula E delivers that. Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture: it offers a brand-new format, combining racing with a strong event character, in order to promote current and future technologies. Electrification is happening in the road car world and Formula E offers manufacturers an interesting platform to bring this technology to a new audience – and to do so with a completely new kind of racing, different to any other series.
I am pleased that we were able to extend our entry option for one year to the 2019/20 season. This gives us time to properly understand the series and to prepare for our entry in the right way.”
Mercedes is the latest manufacturer to announce that it will be joining Formula E, with BMW also recently confirming that it will be joining the field for the 2018-19 Season, where it will provide a new powertrain to Andretti Formula E.
They say it’s #TheBestOrNothing! Coming to #FormulaE in Season 6 is… >> https://t.co/ETCZut7q2z pic.twitter.com/qlKtSHzkgu
— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) July 24, 2017
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