McLaren boss Brown announces EXIT as Red Bull ha...

McLaren to Exit Formula E as Zak Brown Pursues Triple Crown Glory

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has officially confirmed that the team will be withdrawing from the Formula E championship as part of a strategic reshuffle in their motorsport commitments. The decision comes as McLaren prepares for a major expansion into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2027, with the aim of chasing motorsport’s ultimate achievement — winning the Triple Crown in a single season.

While McLaren leads the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, their operations span several series, including IndyCar and Formula E. The team also plans to re-enter the WEC grid, targeting the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. With victories already in the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500, and Le Mans across different eras, McLaren is the only constructor in history to have claimed all three races, which make up the Triple Crown of motorsport.

However, Brown now wants to take this legacy a step further by achieving the remarkable feat of winning all three in the same year — a challenge that would require three elite-level teams performing at the highest standard. “Thirty years ago, we won Le Mans on our debut with a car that wasn’t even supposed to race. That sealed our place in motorsport history,” Brown recalled. “Now, we want to go one better and do it all in one season. We’re ready.”

To focus on this ambitious goal, McLaren has decided to leave Formula E, a series they joined in 2022 with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. In their short time in the all-electric championship, McLaren earned one race victory and secured six podium finishes. Currently, young driver Taylor Barnard is fourth in the 2024–25 Drivers’ Standings, while the team sits third overall.

Brown expressed pride in what the team has achieved in Formula E but emphasized that the departure is a step towards long-term strategic goals. “Formula E remains an important part of the motorsport ecosystem, but now is the right time for us to pursue opportunities that align more directly with McLaren’s vision — particularly our WEC entry in 2027,” he said. McLaren is now working to find a new owner for the Formula E outfit, aiming to ensure the team’s continued presence and success in the championship.

The decision is a significant blow to Formula E, which now faces the challenge of maintaining a full grid for the 2026–27 season. Despite this, McLaren’s exit highlights the growing appeal and prestige of endurance racing as the team turns its attention to a new chapter.

With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri leading their F1 campaign, and IndyCar standout Pato O’Ward showing strong potential with seven career wins, McLaren has a strong driver lineup to support their Triple Crown ambition. As they gear up for their WEC return, all eyes will be on whether McLaren can pull off one of the greatest feats in motorsport history.