After the confirmation of McLaren’s entry to Formula E, there are several pending accounts to know how the team will be put together for season 9, scheduled to start the Gen3 era.
What is known so far is that the company will enter the electric single-seater series with the license of Mercedes-EQ, which is leaving the circuit, but the development of the powertrain they will use and the drivers who will lead the team are still unclear.
As already happens in other competitions such as Formula 1 and Extreme E, it is estimated that McLaren will not develop its own structure in the car, so it is already in negotiations with other manufacturers that can supply it with this technology.
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Paradoxically, in 2014, McLaren Applied Technologies manufactured the electric motor, transmission and electronic system that was installed in all Spark-Renault SRT 01E chassis that competed in Formula E, but now the British firm Greybull Capital is the one that has control over that entire division.
Strategy.
“We are taking a big step. We have to get the category and integrate Ian James (director) and the team. At the end of the day, we have a great partnership with Chevrolet in IndyCar and another great partnership with Mercedes in Formula 1. So having a powertrain other than McLaren is no problem. That’s how we approach motorsport,” stated McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
He pointed out that not applying their own structure will not be a problem, since, for example, in Formula 1 they have never used their own engine in the long history they have in motorsport’s top category.
“We will let Ian James shape the future plans, but this issue seems clear. Ian James himself knows, so we will announce our technical partner, as well as the drivers and our partners and sponsors in due course,” added Brown.
Among the manufacturers being considered to supply technology to McLaren, Nissan has been strongly tipped as an option to formalize a deal to provide power units.
Regarding the drivers, the names of Mercedes representatives Stoffel Vandoorne and Nick de Vries were being considered. However, the former already has a previous agreement with DS Techeetah, while the reigning champion will continue his course outside the street circuits.
