Maserati Reenters Racing Scene by Participating in Formula E

Formula E has faced challenges recently with Audi, BMW, and Mercedes all announcing their exits during the 2020-2021 season. While Mercedes will participate till the end of Gen2, Audi and BMW departed after the Berlin finale last year. McLaren has the opportunity to enter but has not yet committed, and teams like Envision need to quickly find new partners for their powertrains as the Gen3 car approaches.

Maserati may have answered their prayers by announcing its entry as the first new manufacturer in Formula E for the upcoming era. Announced during a call with Stellantis’ head of motorsport Jean-Marc Finot, Maserati CEO Davide Grasso, Formula E co-founder Alejandro Agag, and current FE CEO Jamie Reigle, this Italian sports car brand is making a comeback to competitive racing, with Formula E being the starting point.

Grasso emphasized the significance of returning to motorsport, stating that it is an essential aspect of the brand’s identity. He expressed, “Maserati was born from racing, and without it, Maserati would lack completeness as a brand. Racing has been a fundamental part of our strategy for the past couple of years. Just like in life, readiness and competitiveness are crucial, and the time is right for us to make this move. We have the necessary technology, innovation, and a partnership with Formula E.”

Grasso pointed out the appeal of Formula E, highlighting how the electric championship aligns with consumer trends, stating that it reflects the direction of the world in terms of sports and fashion.

He further added, “Our observations during interactions with Alejandro and his team, witnessing their engagement with the cities where competitions take place, the central locations for races, and the electrification technology, coupled with the competitive spirit they bring, all contribute to Formula E’s attraction. 

“The essence of Formula E is very contemporary and closely resonates with how people view mobility. It involves significant global cultural hubs and integrates all these factors seamlessly, which motivated us to make this strategic decision,” shared Grasso. “It feels like a natural progression for us, and we are thrilled to be a part of Formula E.”

Currently, there is an available team slot in Formula E, with a potential second slot opening up should Mercedes withdraw completely, similar to how ABT reacted when Audi exited, rather than becoming HWA privateers, as done by Andretti post-BMW’s departure. Grasso refrained from divulging whether Maserati plans to establish a full factory team independently or collaborate with an existing FE team.

“We have detailed plans ready to unveil, encompassing teams, team members, and all aspects related to managing and executing this transition,” he clarified. “However, today we prefer to concentrate on the brand’s return to competitive racing, particularly in partnership with Formula E.”

Finot corroborated that Maserati’s participation was not intended to supplant fellow Stellantis car manufacturer DS in the competition, indicating that both brands served as trailblazers and hence, “it’s imperative for these brands to possess this technological experimental laboratory acknowledging that we aim to conduct the software development for both brands and chiefly the software, as it would be, certainly, managed by a separate team with a distinct strategy, a separate proposition. Therefore, they would be rivals.”

Furthermore, this doesn’t imply they will embrace a VW group LMDh tactic of essentially identical vehicles. Finot articulated that “the advancements achieved in Formula E, as well as WEC for Peugeot, could be leveraged for other corporate brands with our technology platform. However, we will preserve, naturally, the uniqueness in motorsport for the brands. For example, for Maserati, it’s a high-power automobile, the Gen3 with 350kW on the rear axle, harnessing both the front and rear axles sums up to 600kW, which is comparable to the powertrain we would employ for Maserati road vehicles.”

“It’s intriguing to establish this nexus between racing and road-going automobiles,” Finot appended. “We will also cultivate certain software tailored to Maserati’s management of Maserati automobiles, the dynamic. Hence, we possess expertise that could be utilized for certain programs, we also possess a framework but also numerous distinctiveness, aligning with the brand’s DNA and technological development anticipations, concerning innovation.”

Maserati affirmed it had not yet finalized details regarding drivers, although it’s presently under deliberation. Its participation in Formula E denotes the initial new motorsport venture for a former Fiat Chrysler brand since the establishment of Stellantis.

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