McLaren signs option to join Formula E for Gen3

McLaren Racing has signed an agreement with Formula E, securing an option to join the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship grid for Gen3 from the 2022 season.

McLaren Racing and Formula E have today announced that they have signed an agreement granting McLaren Racing an option to enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship when Formula E’s Gen3 kicks off in Season 9.

The Woking-based outfit has confirmed today that it had gained an option to join the fully electric series from 2022. Formula E has defined a maximum capacity of 12 entries with the announcement meaning that McLaren secured one of the entries for 2022.

The racing team stressed that the announcement does not mean that it has made a definite decision, but it would continue to evaluate the feasibility of entering the series.

McLaren’s Applied Technologies department is Formula E’s exclusive Gen2 battery supplier under a four-season contract which concludes at the end of the 2021/22 season. The option could mean that the British squad would deepen its involvement as a competitor in the electric championship.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing commented on the announcement by claiming that "we’ve been closely observing Formula E for some time and monitoring the series’ progress and future direction.

"The opportunity to take an option on an entry and the completion of the McLaren Applied supplier contract with the FIA at the end of Gen2, gives us the necessary time to decide if Formula E is right for McLaren as a future competition platform."

Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman of Formula E added: „The opportunity to take an option on an entry and the completion of the McLaren Applied supplier contract with the FIA at the end of Gen2, gives us the necessary time to decide if Formula E is right for McLaren as a future competition platform,” he said.