McLaren to end Formula E program

McLaren has confirmed that its name will disappear from the Formula E grid at the end of the current season.

The decision comes off the back of the long-awaited confirmation that the company will be mounting a full factory assault on the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class from 2027. Although the team previously told RACER that the Hypercar program didn’t pose a threat to the Formula E effort, McLaren has since conducted a “strategic review of its racing portfolio” which has determined that it will withdraw its support following the conclusion of Season 11.

While it started to become apparent this week that a McLaren exit could be on the cards, the timing of its departure comes as something of a surprise  it was at least expected that the team would see out the rest of the current GEN3 Evo ruleset and remain until the end of next season.

“We are immensely proud of what we have achieved in Formula E and the series plays an integral part in the overall motorsport landscape, but the time is right to explore other opportunities that more closely align with McLaren Racing’s overall strategic direction — including our 2027 entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. “For now, we are focused on setting this great team up for future success by working towards securing a new owner. The team has delivered a strong start to the year and we intend to finish the season on a high. I’d like to thank the team, Formula E, our partners, and our fans for their continued support.”

Team principal Ian James underlined that the intention is for the team to continue competing in Formula E with new backers and a new identity.

“We have been on an incredible journey so far as a team and are rightly proud of our achievements. Since the start of Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, we have been extremely fortunate to have been an integral part of the McLaren Racing family,” said James. “My heartfelt thanks goes out to the company, our partners and all of our fans, for their trust and support throughout, which will continue as we fight to the end of this year’s championship. This team is second-to-none in terms of the talent within — talent which has delivered huge success in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

“Although our McLaren Racing chapter comes to an end, we recognize the value and power of Formula E as a world championship and platform for positive change as the sport goes from strength to strength. Work is well underway to explore the best opportunities for the team to continue competing beyond Season 11. In the meantime, we will be giving our all to make sure that we finish the current chapter of our Formula E adventure in style.”

The situation is not too dissimilar to the one that led to the formation of NEOM McLaren in the first place. After beginning life in Season 5 as HWA, it became the full Mercedes factory outfit a year later, competing for three seasons under the German marque’s banner. It won back-to-back teams’ and drivers’ titles in the final two years of that program with Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne, before being taken over by McLaren following Mercedes’ own decision to depart.

McLaren is currently enjoying its best start to a Formula E campaign, currently sitting third in the teams’ standings and helping Nissan – which provides its powertrains – sit atop of the manufacturers’ standings.

McLaren driver Taylor Barnard has taken three podiums from five starts so far, becoming the series’ youngest podium finisher and youngest-ever polesitter at the second race of the Jeddah E-Prix.