Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team

The Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team is a German racing team which competes in Formula E, which is organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The team made its debut at the 2019 Diriyah ePrix, as part of the 2019–20 season.[6]

Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team
Founded2018[N 1]
BaseBrixworth, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom[N 2]
Affalterbach, Germany[N 3]
Team principal(s)Tom Hunt[2] or Ian James[2]
Current seriesFormula E
Current drivers Stoffel Vandoorne
Nyck de Vries
Gary Paffett[N 4]
Esteban Gutiérrez[N 5]

History

On 24 July 2017, Mercedes announced that it would enter the FIA Formula E Championship in the 2019–20 season, and that it would leave the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) at the end of the 2018 season.[3][6] Mercedes also announced that its new venture would be backed by the legendary Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One team.[7]

2018–19 season
Stoffel Vandoorne qualified on pole at the 2019 Hong Kong ePrix.
89th Geneva International Motor Show
2019 New York City ePrix
Before it was officially launched, the Silver Arrow 01 had visited various promotional events during the 2018–19 season, sporting a 'teaser' black livery.

Mercedes unofficially entered Formula E a season ahead of their debut through their affiliation with HWA. On 9 May 2018, HWA confirmed that it will enter the 2018–19 season as a customer team, using powertrains from Venturi, who HWA had already been in partnership with regarding technical support.[8] On 8 October 2018, the HWA Racelab team has been officially launched, revealing the car along with Gary Paffett as its first driver.[9] Stoffel Vandoorne was later confirmed as Paffett's teammate, moving straight to Formula E from his McLaren F1 drive that was coming to a close.[10]

We have always said that HWA is preparing the entry for Mercedes and we are running as an independent team. We have an independent drivetrain too, but of course we want to take away as much knowledge as we can to Brixworth, Brackley and Affalterbach. So we are trying to achieve the best for this season but mainly get the best platform to be competitive in Season Six.

— Ulrich Fritz, "HWA Racelab Building “Platform” for Mercedes EQ", e-racing365 (27 December 2018)[1]

HWA had a very complicated start to the season, not scoring any points in its first four races. In the season's fifth race in Hong Kong, HWA surprised with their pace in wet conditions during the weekend, with Vandoorne even qualifying on pole, giving HWA its first three points in the championship. Paffett qualified fourth.[11] Vandoorne then retired from the race after a driveshaft failure, while Paffett finished eighth, which was HWA's first points finish. HWA then scored another points and first podium in Rome, where Vandoorne finished third. The car broke down immediately after the race due to another driveshaft failure.[12] Venturi's reliability improved in the second half of the season, giving HWA a better chance at good results. Vandoorne was a regular points scorer, but the car wasn't quick enough in races to compete for podiums.

HWA finished ninth in the Teams' Championship and scored 44 points in their one-off season (35 with Vandoorne, 9 with Paffett).

2019–20 season
Much like Mercedes' 2020 Formula One car, the Silver Arrow 01 (pictured at IAA 2019) originally sported a silver livery before it was changed to black in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mercedes' official debut, under the name of Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team, took place in November 2019 at the Diriyah ePrix, which is a double-header event. In a form of continuity, the team will utilize the groundwork laid by HWA, rather than completely reworking the team structure.[13] In addition to the established pairing of Paffett and Vandoorne[14], the team has also used Edoardo Mortara[15], Esteban Gutiérrez[16] and Nyck de Vries in pre-season testing.[17]

Mercedes' first contender, dubbed the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01, was unveiled in March 2019. It featured a 'teaser' black livery, resembling the HWA car already in competition. The car went on to appear at various events, in promotion of Mercedes' Formula E entry, including the 89th Geneva International Motor Show.[18] In September 2019, the team announced it had signed Danish wind power company Vestas as a principal partner.[19] On 11 September, Mercedes revealed the definitive look of their car (now incorporating metallic silver), along with their new team principal and drivers. Stoffel Vandoorne will continue with team, becoming their 1st driver, but he will be partnering with the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Champion Nyck de Vries. The team will be managed by Ian James.[20] In October, it was announced that the team will supply its new powertrain to Venturi Racing, reversing the manufacturer-customer relationship in the favor of Mercedes.[21]

In pre-season testing, which was held at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Mercedes were the second slowest team in overall classification, only outpacing NIO 333.[22] Vandoorne, however, won one of the two simulation races that were held during the week.[23] Felipe Massa from Venturi was the fastest Mercedes-powered driver of the week, finishing twelfth in the overall classification.[22] On 15 November, the team confirmed Gutiérrez to join Paffett as a second reserve and development driver.[5]

In July 2020, prior the season resuming after the COVID-19 pandemic, Mercedes brought back and updated the pre-season black livery to unify it with the design used on the F1 W11 EQ Performance car.[24] The drivers additionally wear black racing overalls.

The team completed the 2019–20 Formula E season with their maiden victory in the final race at Berlin with a 1-2 finish.[25] Stoffel Vandoorne finished the season ranking second in the drivers championship and Mercedes finished in third place on the constructors standing.[26]

Sponsors
Sponsor[N 6] 2019–20
Vestas[19]
SAP SE[27]
ON Semiconductor[28]
Neom[29]

Results
2018–19: HWA Racelab
Year Chassis Powertrain Tyres No. Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points T.C.
Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team
2019–20 Spark SRT05e Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 M DIR SCL MEX MRK BER I BER II BER III 147 3rd
5 Stoffel Vandoorne 3 3 6 NC 15 6 5 Ret 12 9 1
17 Nyck de Vries 6 16 5 Ret 11 4 Ret 18 4 14 2
Notes
  • † – Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Other teams supplied by Mercedes
Year Team Chassis Powertrain Tyres No. Drivers Points T.C. Source
2019–20 ROKiT Venturi Racing Spark SRT05e Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 M 44 10th [21]
19 Felipe Massa
48 Edoardo Mortara

    Footnotes
    1. The team entered the 2018–19 season as HWA Racelab, a customer team using Venturi powertrains. This move was done in order to adapt to the Formula E environment before entering the series as a full-fledged works team.[1][2]
    2. The team shares the Brixworth base with its Formula One counterpart for its powertrain development.[3]
    3. HWA continues to run trackside operations of the team, which continues under the Mercedes-Benz banner.[2]
    4. Paffett is a reserve and development driver.[4]
    5. Gutiérrez is a reserve and development driver.[5]
    6. This list only includes companies whose logos have appeared on the team's cars. Mandatory logos of series' partners are also excluded from the list.

    References
    1. Smith, Sam (27 December 2018). "HWA Racelab Building "Platform" for Mercedes EQ". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    2. "Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team". FIA Formula E. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
    3. "Mercedes Reveals First Details Of Formula E Plans". insideevs.com. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
    4. "Paffett chosen as Mercedes-Benz Reserve driver and Sporting Advisor". FIA Formula E. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
    5. Kalinauckas, Alex (15 November 2019). "Mercedes names Gutierrez as FE reserve driver". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
    6. "Mercedes-Benz to enter Formula E in Season 6". FIA Formula E. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
    7. "Mercedes F1 team to support Mercedes EQ Formula E assaut". jamesallenonf1.com/. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
    8. Kilshaw, Jake (9 May 2018). "HWA Confirms Season Five Entry as Venturi Customer". e-racing365. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    9. Kilshaw, Jake (8 October 2018). "HWA Racelab Launched; Paffett to Drive". e-racing365. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    10. Smith, Sam (15 October 2018). "Vandoorne Confirmed at HWA Racelab". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    11. Lloyd, Daniel (9 March 2019). "Vandoorne Claims First Formula E Pole in Hong Kong". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    12. Smith, Sam (15 April 2019). "Vandoorne Had to Nurse 'Driveshaft Issue' to Claim First Podium". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    13. Smith, Sam (12 March 2019). "Staff Continuity Likely for Mercedes EQ". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    14. Smith, Sam (26 June 2019). "Mercedes Completes Two-Day Varano Test". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    15. Smith, Sam (3 April 2019). "Mercedes-Benz EQ Completes First Test". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    16. Smith, Sam (30 July 2019). "Mercedes EQ to Test Esteban Gutierrez". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    17. Smith, Sam (14 August 2019). "De Vries Tests for Mercedes EQ". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    18. Scarano, Genevieve (3 March 2019). "Mercedes-Benz Debuts Its First EQ Silver Arrow 01 Formula-E Racecar". Geek.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
    19. "Vestas to be Principal Partner of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team". 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
    20. Kalinauckas, Alex (11 September 2019). "Mercedes signs Vandoorne, de Vries for debut FE season". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
    21. Smith, Sam (3 October 2019). "Venturi Switches to Customer Status With Mercedes". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
    22. "Valencia Testing - Overall Classification" (PDF). FIA Formula E. 18 October 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
    23. Smith, Sam (16 October 2019). "Vandoorne First in Trial Race; Frijns Sets Fastest Lap". e-racing365. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
    24. Smith, Sam (29 July 2020). "Mercedes Formula E team switches to black livery too". The Race. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
    25. Kew, Matt (13 August 2020). "Berlin E-Prix: Vandoorne heads Mercedes 1-2 in season finale". Retrieved 16 August 2020.
    26. Kew, Matt (13 August 2020). "Berlin E-Prix VI: Vandoorne gives Mercedes first Formula E win in finale". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
    27. "New Technology Partnership: SAP and the Mercedes EQ Formula E Team Power Up for the Future". SAP SE. 22 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
    28. "ON Semiconductor and Mercedes EQ Formula E Team will work jointly to develop innovations for electric power trains of the future". Daimler AG. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
    29. "NEOM becomes Principal Partner of Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team". Daimler AG. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
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