One of NEOM McLaren‘s steering wheels will change hands for Formula E Season 10. In an official statement, the iconic team announced that Rene Rast will not continue with the team.
According to the team, it was the driver who decided to step aside to take on new challenges in his motorsport career.
“Rene has been an integral part of the team’s successes and learnings in his first season as NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Rene has made the difficult decision to pursue other opportunities, and the team fully supports his decision,” reads the statement from the brand.
Rast’s Path in the Series
Rast returned to Formula E after a full-time stint with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in Season 7, with a best result of second place in Puebla.
The driver’s first appearance in the series was in 2015/16 and was followed by a stint with Audi in the six-race, nine-day finale during the sixth season in Berlin that earned him a full-time drive a year later.
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The three-time DTM champion scored McLaren‘s only podium finish of the season, at Diriyah, and finished just eight points behind rookie Jake Hughes in the sister car, finishing 13th in the World Drivers’ Championship.
A tough run during the second half of the season from his home E-Prix in Berlin onwards saw him fail to finish higher than 12th.
Who will Fill his Place?
The name most buzzing around McLaren after Rast’s departure is that of Sam Bird, who closed his cycle with Jaguar Racing.
Beyond the departure of René Rast and the possible arrival of Sam Bird to the team, where there seems to be no doubt is in the continuity of Jake Hughes, although there is still a lot of fabric to cut facing the 10th season of the electric single-seater series.
