McLaren to quit Formula E as focus shifts to Le Mans and World Endurance Championship

McLaren will leave the all-electric Formula E series at the end of this season as the iconic British racing brand refocuses its motorsport ambitions on the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours.

The decision follows McLaren’s recent announcement that it will join WEC from 2027, a move designed to realign its motorsport portfolio around the most prestigious global events. McLaren entered Formula E in 2022 after acquiring the title-winning Mercedes team but now says it is time to concentrate its efforts elsewhere.

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.”

Brown added that McLaren is seeking a new owner for its Formula E team. British drivers Taylor Barnard and Sam Bird are currently fourth and 13th in the championship standings after five rounds this season. “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.”

McLaren’s withdrawal reflects a wider strategy to concentrate on high-profile motorsport categories where the brand has historic roots and commercial growth potential. The company is aiming to be the only manufacturer actively competing across motorsport’s so-called Triple Crown: Formula 1, the Indianapolis 500, and Le Mans.

Already reigning F1 world champions, McLaren’s drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris sit first and second in the F1 standings after five races this season. In IndyCar, Christian Lundgaard and Pato O’Ward are also performing strongly, ranked third and sixth after three rounds.

World Endurance racing offers McLaren a chance to showcase its engineering prowess at Le Mans, a crucial link to the marketing of its road-going, high-performance sports cars. The move also aligns McLaren with competitors such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini, all of whom are active in the WEC.

Formula E, despite being a fully-fledged FIA world championship, continues to struggle with maintaining a broad public profile. Brown previously criticised the series for failing to grow its audience and noted that while sustainability is a core appeal of Formula E, Formula 1 is increasingly adopting greener technologies. From 2026, F1 engines will feature a 50 per cent electric component, and the series will switch to fully sustainable fuels.

In parallel, McLaren is reinforcing its broader sustainability commitments, including producing a circularity handbook commissioned by the FIA to promote better environmental practices in F1 design and manufacturing.

While McLaren’s departure is a setback for Formula E, it reflects a strategic shift towards more traditional motorsport platforms that offer deeper heritage, greater visibility, and stronger alignment with McLaren’s long-term brand and business ambitions.