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Nyck de Vries, Mercedes Benz EQ, EQ Silver Arrow 02
Autosport Plus
Analysis

The problems laid bare by Mercedes' impending Formula E departure

Mercedes' planned withdrawal from Formula E at the end of the 2022 season will contribute to the big hole left by fellow automotive manufacturers Audi and BMW on their departures. Although the team may stick around under a different guise, the exit of the now-reigning teams' champion underlines FE's current issues...

Formula E’s survival is not dependent on any one manufacturer or team. But the doomsday clock has undeniably ticked closer to midnight after the Daimler boardroom finally decided in the last two weeks that Mercedes should quit the series at the end of the 2022 season.

Last weekend’s Berlin E-Prix, when Nyck de Vries took Mercedes to a drivers’ and teams’ title double, also marked the final outings for BMW and Audi. Yet losing the Three-Pointed Star from the grid feels like a more punishing blow. Not only is it the most high-profile marque on the grid but, at the time of the decision, the board opted for the exit door after fewer than two complete seasons in Formula E, a championship which will come to define a significant chunk of the legacy of its key architect and outgoing FIA president Jean Todt.

Previous article Mercedes could sell Formula E team after 2022 departure
Next article Rowland "completely different person" after three Formula E seasons with Buemi

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