Revealed at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team officially joins the grid for the 2019/20 season after transitioning from HWA Racelab.
Behind the wheel of its new Gen2 challenger, the Silver Arrow 01, is Dutchman Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne while Ian James takes the position of Team Principal.
Calling on 125 years of experience in motorsport, the German powerhouse marked the beginning of a new chapter in its history as it revealed its first all-electric racing car, the Silver Arrow 01 ahead of the 2019/20 season opener in Saudi Arabia on November 22 and 23.
At the heart of the car is the Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrain (HPP), which is built in the UK at the Daimler Group’s global centre of excellence for high-performance hybrid technology – birthplace of the hybrid power units with which Mercedes has dominated the Formula One championship.
Getting behind the wheel of the German outfit’s new car will be Dutchman Nyck de Vires and Stoffel Vandoorne. After a season with associated team HWA Racelab, Vandoorne finished his first campaign in Formula E 16th with one podium finish after 13 races. Alongside the Belgian driver is Formula E rookie Nyck de Vires, who joins the squad as a full-time driver after graduating from a testing role with Mercedes-Benz.
“In Stoffel and Nyck, we have recruited two formidable and adaptable drivers who can continue to learn and grow with us in our Formula E debut season,” says Ian James, Team Principal of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team.
“At Mercedes-Benz, we can look back on 125 years in motor racing. However, we know that Formula E is very different from any other series we have ever competed in.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure success, but we also have enough humility to realise that we have a steep learning curve ahead of us.”
After building on the learnings from a season as HWA Racelab, the Mercedes-Benz squad will still hand over the responsibility for managing the cars on race weekends to the Affalterbach-based developer.
The Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team also receives support from the reigning Formula 1 constructors champions, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, at Brackley.