Mercedes might join Formula E in 2018

Mercedes-Benz has today announced that it might enter the Formula E championship in 2018.

Why might? Because Mercedes GP and Formula E Operations have signed an agreement that allows Merc the "option" to enter as a new entry. One of two reserved for the fifth season of the electric racing championship, which takes place between 2018-2019.

Season five also sees the current format of two-cars-per-driver change to just one car for the entire event, and Merc's ambition to race means it joins other car manufacturers including Jaguar, Renault and Audi. BMW Motorsport is also involved in the electric motorsport championship too, in the shape of the Andretti Formula E team, and a full works entry is expected at the same time as Mercedes.

Mercedes's Toto Wolff said: "We have been watching the growth of Formula E with great interest. At the current time, we are looking at all the options available in the future of motor racing, and we are very pleased with an agreement that secures us an opportunity to enter the series in season five."

The news follows Mercedes' recent plans to introduce ten new electric cars by the year 2025, something that Wolff was quick to point out. "Electrification will play a major role in the future of the automotive industry," he said. "Racing has always been a technology R&D platform for industry and this will make Formula E very relevant in the future.”

Formule E's Alejandro Agag added: “We are delighted to confirm that we have reserved one of our two new entries in season five for Mercedes GP. Formula E wants to become the platform where car manufacturers test and develop the technologies that they will then introduce on their road cars.

"Formula E is becoming an exciting mix of consolidated manufacturers like Renault, Citroen-DS, Audi, Mahindra or Jaguar, and new futuristic brands like Faraday Future, NextEV, or the likes of major component manufacturers like Schaeffler and ZF. Mercedes would be a great addition to that growing line up.”