McLaren to quit all-electric Formula E series
McLaren are to quit the all-electric Formula E series at the end of this season.
The decision comes in the wake of McLaren's commitment earlier this month to enter the world endurance championship, with its centrepiece the classic Le Mans 24 Hours, from 2027.
McLaren, who entered Formula E in 2022, said the decision "will allow us to maximise future opportunities for growth across our key markets".
Zak Brown, McLaren Racing's chief executive officer, said: "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."
McLaren took over the Formula E team run by Mercedes, who quit the series after winning back-to back world titles with Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne.
The decision to exit reflects McLaren's desire to focus on the highest-profile parts of their motorsport portfolio, and acknowledgment that they cannot compete in everything.
It also resonates with the company's history as previous winners of the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans, motorsport's so-called triple crown.
The decision to enter WEC makes them the only company competing across these three motorsport championships. McLaren have set themselves the target of winning the triple crown again.
They are reigning F1 world champions, and McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are first and second in this year's championship after the first five grands prix.
IndyCar provides an additional presence in the US market beyond the country's three grands prix in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas, as well as an entry in the Indy 500, the country's biggest race.
McLaren drivers Christian Lundgaard and Pato O'Ward are third and sixth in this year's IndyCar series after three rounds.
World Endurance gives McLaren access to the prestige of Le Mans, as well as a direct marketing link to the company's road-going, high-performance sports cars. Many of McLaren's road-car market rivals, such as Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, are also competing in WEC.
McLaren also have a presence in the Formula 1 Academy for aspiring female drivers.
Formula E is a world championship but it is struggling to maintain a significant public profile and last year Brown said its failure to grow its audience was the series' "biggest problem".
In addition to that, while Formula E gives brands a chance to trumpet sustainability as a message, the same now applies to F1.
F1 already uses highly efficient hybrid engines, and from next year the electrical part of the power unit will increase to supply about 50% of the total performance. F1 is also switching to fully sustainable fuels.
McLaren is also pushing its sustainability agenda in other areas, for example by producing a circularity handbook which was commissioned by governing body the FIA aimed at improving sustainability practices in F1 design and manufacturing.
Brown said McLaren would look for a new owner for the Formula E team, whose British drivers Taylor Barnard and Sam Bird are fourth and 13th in the championship after the first five rounds.
"For now, we are focused on setting this great team up for future success by working towards securing a new owner," Brown said.
"The team has delivered a strong start to the year and we intend to finish the season on a high."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Motor 1
2 hours ago
- Motor 1
Alpine: 'The Combustion Engine Is Not the Enemy'
Although governments are pushing consumers and automakers to buy electric vehicles, adoption isn't happening as quickly as expected. This has automakers pivoting back toward combustion engines, embracing hybrids as transitionary vehicles on the path toward full electrification. However, Alpine's chief hydrogen engineer believes the future will require several solutions to reduce emissions and that regulators have it wrong by outright banning the combustion engine. Pierre-Jean Tardy told , "The combustion engine is not the enemy," pointing out that the true enemy is fossil fuels and harmful emissions. He noted that combustion engines can run on carbon-free fuels, like hydrogen. However, he did admit that there is no one solution to how we power future vehicles and that it'll require a "mix" of sources. Photo by: Alpine There are several automakers experimenting with combustion hydrogen engines, including Toyota, Ford, and even Yamaha. However, the process of making hydrogen fuel, and most other synthetic types, often still relies on fossil fuels or requires massive amounts of energy, diminishing the benefits and increasing costs. Tardy is currently working to get the Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2028. It has a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 730 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. The Pivot Back Toward Combustion In the last few months, several automakers have announced they are pivoting back toward developing new cars with combustion engines. Fiat slipped a gas engine back into the electric 500 , broadening its appeal. Volkswagen's upcoming EV platform will be able to accommodate combustion powertrains . Mini has said it won't abandon gas , and Mazda is working on what it calls " the ideal internal combustion engine ." Other automakers have hedged their bets, creating platforms that can easily accommodate a range of different powertrain types based on demand. BMW's Neue Klasse platform , Stellantis's STLA architecture, and Scout's future truck and SUV will be able to offer the powertrains people want to buy. If combustion cars are going to stay on the road, an emission-free fuel they can burn is better than forcing EVs onto consumers who don't want them. Hydrogens Future: The New Hyundai Nexo Shows Hydrogen Isn't Dead Cummins Made a New Turbocharger for Hydrogen Engines Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canadian Grand Prix to run on the same day as the Indianapolis 500 in 2026
The Canadian Grand Prix will be held at the same time as the Indianapolis 500 in 2026. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) The days of the Monaco Grand Prix preceding the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend are gone. At least for now. Formula 1 released its 2026 schedule on Tuesday and it includes the series going head-to-head with the Indianapolis 500. The Monaco Grand Prix has moved back to June and will take place on June 7. In its place is the Canadian Grand Prix, which will be held on May 24. Advertisement This year's Canadian Grand Prix is set to be held on Sunday and has traditionally been held in mid-June. But next year's date swap is being made for travel-related reasons. Monaco will be the first race of the season in Europe. By moving the Canadian Grand Prix up and Monaco back, F1 will have nine straight European races. Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix is set to start at 2 p.m. ET for a primetime start in Europe. Assuming the race keeps that start time, it will overlap with the end of the Indy 500. The Indy 500 was scheduled to go green at 12:45 p.m. ET this year but was delayed for rain showers. The Monaco Grand Prix hasn't been held on Memorial Day weekend every year of its existence, but its absence from the same day of the Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 will be a stark change for race fans who have become accustomed to watching all three events in the same day. The ninth and final European race of the year will also be a new race on the calendar. F1 will host a second race in Spain on a street circuit in Madrid on Sept. 13. That race replaces Imola on the calendar. Imola has held a spring Grand Prix in recent years, but is being dropped for 2026 and beyond. Advertisement The 2026 season begins again in Australia before races in China and Japan ahead of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Miami Grand Prix will be on May 3, while the United States Grand Prix in Austin will be on Oct. 25 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be on Nov. 21. The Vegas race will again be followed by races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to close the season. 2026 Formula 1 schedule March 8: Australian Grand Prix March 15: Chinese Grand Prix March 29: Japanese Grand Prix April 12: Bahrain Grand Prix April 19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix May 3: Miami Grand Prix May 24: Canadian Grand Prix June 7: Monaco Grand Prix June 14: Spanish Grand Prix Advertisement June 28: Austrian Grand Prix July 5: British Grand Prix July 19: Belgian Grand Prix July 26: Hungarian Grand Prix Aug. 23: Dutch Grand Prix Sept. 6: Italian Grand Prix Sept. 13: Madrid Grand Prix Sept. 27: Azerbaijan Grand Prix Oct. 11: Singapore Grand Prix Oct. 25: United States Grand Prix Nov. 1: Mexico Grand Prix Nov. 8: São Paulo Grand Prix Nov. 21: Las Vegas Grand Prix Nov. 29: Qatar Grand Prix Dec. 6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix


Fox News
4 hours ago
- Fox News
2025 INDYCAR odds: Josef Newgarden favored to win at Gateway
INDYCAR heads to St. Louis for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 this weekend and fans can watch the exciting action on FOX. Fans can also dive into the odds for this weekend's race and wager on which driver they think has what it takes to get into victory lane. Kyle Kirkwood won the most recent race at Detroit, and Alex Palou has won five of the first seven — including the Indy 500. However, for Gateway, Josef Newgarden has opened as the favorite at 5/2 (bet $10 to win $35 total). Will Kirkwood or Palou get into victory lane again this weekend, or will Newgarden or another driver take the checkered flag? Let's dive into the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 10. Josef Newgarden: 5/2 (bet $10 to win $35 total)Alex Palou: 7/2 (bet $10 to win $45 total)Scott McLaughlin: 11/2 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Pato O'Ward: 7/1 (bet $10 to win $80 total)David Malukas: 8/1 (bet $10 to win $90 total)Colton Herta: 10/1 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Will Power: 12/1 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Scott Dixon: 12/1 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Kyle Kirkwood: 12/1 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Marcus Ericsson: 20/1 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Felix Rosenqvist: 20/1 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Christian Lundgaard: 20/1 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Santino Ferrucci: 25/1 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Alexander Rossi: 25/1 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Marcus Armstrong: 50/1 (bet $10 to win $510 total)Conor Daly: 50/1 (bet $10 to win $510 total)Rinus Veekay: 60/1 (bet $10 to win $610 total)Graham Rahal: 60/1 (bet $10 to win $610 total)Robert Shwartzman: 80/1 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Louis Foster: 80/1 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Nolan Siegel: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)Christian Rasmussen: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)Sting Ray Robb: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)Kyffin Simpson: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)Jacob Abel: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)Devlin DeFrancesco: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)Callum Ilott: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!