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McLaren to Withdraw from Formula E as Zak Brown Sets Sights on Triple Crown Triumph
McLaren Racing has officially announced its departure from the Formula E World Championship as part of a broader shift in focus across its motorsport operations. CEO Zak Brown confirmed the decision, revealing that the team is redirecting its efforts toward a high-stakes goal: conquering the motorsport Triple Crown — the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans — all within a single calendar year.
While McLaren currently tops the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship and remains competitive in the IndyCar Series, the British racing outfit is preparing to deepen its presence in endurance racing. Specifically, McLaren is eyeing a full-time return to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2027, with the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans firmly in its crosshairs. The Triple Crown has already been achieved by McLaren over the years — albeit not simultaneously — and they remain the only constructor to have claimed victory in all three historic events. Now, Brown wants to elevate that legacy even further.
“Winning Le Mans on our debut thirty years ago with a car that wasn’t even built for endurance racing was a defining moment,” Brown reflected. “Now, the challenge is to win Le Mans, Indy, and Monaco in the same season. It’s never been done, but we believe it’s possible.”
As part of this ambitious roadmap, McLaren has opted to end its involvement in Formula E, a series it entered in 2022 through the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Despite a relatively short stint in the all-electric championship, the team made notable progress. They secured one race victory and earned six podiums, with current standout driver Taylor Barnard sitting fourth in the 2024–25 Drivers’ Standings. The team itself is holding third in the Teams’ Championship, showcasing their competitiveness even in their final season.
Brown expressed pride in what McLaren accomplished in Formula E, calling it a meaningful chapter in the team’s journey. However, he emphasized that the exit reflects a strategic realignment aligned with McLaren’s long-term goals. “Formula E is a great championship with a bright future, but our vision is focused elsewhere. The WEC presents an opportunity to do something truly historic, and we’re all-in,” he stated.
McLaren is now actively seeking a buyer for its Formula E operation to ensure the team’s continuity in the championship. The move is a setback for Formula E, which faces the challenge of filling grid spots ahead of the 2026–27 season, but it also signals the rising prestige of endurance racing as a premier global motorsport category.
With an elite driver lineup including Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Formula 1, and Pato O’Ward impressing in IndyCar with seven career wins, McLaren is assembling the talent necessary to chase the Triple Crown dream. Their future WEC program, backed by this powerful trio of racing series, aims to etch McLaren’s name in the annals of motorsport history once again — this time, by achieving the ultimate feat in a single season.
