Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Mercedes Benz commits to Formula E, departs DTM
july 25, 2017 - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport

Mercedes Benz commits to Formula E, departs DTM

  • Formula E entry for Season 6 in 2019/20

  • DTM departure at the end of the 2018 season

  • Toto Wolff: „Our years in the #dtm will always be held high as a major chapter in our motorsport history.“

  • Dr. Jens Thiemer: „Formula E is a significant step in order to demonstrate the performance of our attractive battery powered electric vehicles under the EQ technology brand“

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 #formulae in the 2019/20 season.

This new approach will see #mercedesbenz competing at both ends of the motorsport spectrum: in Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport combining high technology and the most demanding competitive challenge; and in #formulae, which embodies the transformation that is underway in the #automotive industry.

We want to win as many titles as possible before we go

Since the “new” #dtm was founded in 2000, we have so far enjoyed 18 continuous seasons of great #racing, spectacular battles and close-matched competition. We were lucky enough to celebrate championship success and learned how to handle defeat. And we loved every second of it.

“Our years in the #dtm will always be held high as a major chapter in the motorsport history of Mercedes,” commented Toto Wolff. “I want to thank every team member whose fantastic work has helped to make #mercedesbenz the most successful #dtm manufacturer during that time. Although leaving is tough for all of us, we will be doing everything during this season and next to make sure we win as many #dtm titles as possible before we go. We owe that to our fans and to ourselves.”

Since the #dtm was founded in 1988, there have been 26 #racing seasons during which #mercedesbenz has won 10 drivers’, 13 team and six manufacturer titles (DTM + ITC combined). With our fans, we have celebrated 183 race wins, 128 pole positions and 540 podium finishes.

„Our departure from the #dtm brings a long-standing motorsport era to a close. We look back with pride on the commitment of our teams, drivers, partners and the many people behind the scenes, who so often made the series a fascinating platform for our customers and for fans of our brand,” concluded Vice President Marketing #mercedesbenz Cars Dr Jens Thiemer. “It is now time to start on a new path.”

Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture

Electric mobility is already of strategic importance to the company today and this will only increase in the future. #formulae offers a perfect platform on which to demonstrate the competitiveness of our technology brand EQ in a #racing environment, in the area of battery electric powertrains.

„Mercedes-Benz will market future battery powered electric vehicles using the EQ label,” explained Dr Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing #mercedesbenz. “Formula E is a significant step in order to demonstrate the performance of our attractive battery powered electric vehicles, as well as giving an emotional spin to our EQ technology brand through motorsport and marketing.”

Toto Wolff views #formulae as a brand new form of #racing that reflects a rapidly changing #automotive landscape.

“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 #formulae delivers that. #formulae 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 #formulae 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.”

“Today is a great day as we welcome Mercedes to the #formulae family - adding to the increasing number of manufacturers joining the electric revolution,” said #formulae Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag. “This step 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. #formulae 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.”