Mercedes has confirmed it will join the Formula E grid from Season 6 starting in 2019, dropping their long-standing presence in the DTM touring car series to do so.
The German manufacturer and currently three-time defending world champions in Formula 1 had the option to take up an entry in the all-electric series from Season 5 but has decided the delay that by one season.
It marks another major boost for Formula E who will have a total of seven car manufacturers on the grid with Audi, Citroen, Renault, Jaguar, NextEV and BMW alongside Mercedes with Ferrari and Porsche both reportedly interested in a future entry as well.
“Today is a great day as we welcome Mercedes to the Formula E family – adding to the increasing number of manufacturers joining the electric revolution,” series founder and CEO, Alejandro Agag said.
“This shows how much the world is changing, not only in motorsport but the whole automotive industry. We’re witnessing a transformation that will first change our cities, and then our roads.
“Formula E is the championship that embodies that change and together with all our teams and manufacturers we’ll keep pushing for technologies, to have better and more affordable electric cars.
“Mercedes-Benz has been competing in motorsport since the very beginning and in joining this newest chapter of racing history – Formula E – it shows that the vision and concept of the championship is aligned with how manufacturers want to develop electric vehicle technologies and bring these innovations to audiences around the world.”
For Mercedes, the increasing appeal of Formula E and the following it has generated in such a short time was too much to turn down, with replicating their recent F1 success the overall goal.
“Mercedes Benz has announced a strategic repositioning of its motorsport activities: the company will conclude its participation in DTM at the end of 2018 and enter Formula E in the 2019/20 season,” the statement confirming their decision read.
“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.”