Maserati to return to racing in 2023 Formula E series

16 January 2022

Maserati is making history as the first Italian brand to compete in the all-electric motorsport series, Formula E. The Stellantis subsidiary will pull up onto the start line of the AAB FIA World Championship in 2023.

‘We have a long history of world-class excellence in competition, and we are ready to drive performance in the future,’ said Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO. ‘In the race for more performance, luxury, and innovation, Folgore is irresistible and it is the purest expression of Maserati. That is why we decided to go back to racing in the FIA Formula E World Championship, meeting our customers in the city centres of the world, taking the Trident forward into the future.’

A technological laboratory

Maserati will make its grid debut from season nine with the new Gen3, which the brand believes to be the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient Formula E racing car ever. According to the OEM, it represents industry-leading design, production, and technological innovations.

Carmakers like Maserati are racing towards electromobility, and development is the name of the game. Creating electric technology that will become the foundation of new models is anything but straightforward. There is a need to prepare, prime and perfect these systems, which is where motorsport becomes a crucible for development.

‘It is a great pleasure for Stellantis Motorsport to play a part in getting Maserati back in the race,’ said Jean-Marc Finot, senior VP, Stellantis Motorsport. ‘Beyond this piece of history, Maserati Formula E will be our technological laboratory to accelerate the development of high-efficiency electrified powertrains and intelligent software for our road sports cars. Formula E is the perfect Championship for this purpose, and we are very proud to be the first Italian brand to join in.’

A true crucible?

Since the first electric flag fell in 2014, Formula E has graced the streets of iconic cities around the world. New York, Monaco, Berlin, Mexico City, London and Rome have all hosted races. The Italian brand believes the net-zero carbon motorsport to be responsible for the advance of battery-electric vehicle (BEVs) technology around the world. It points to all-electric models going further on a single charge thanks to greater efficiency, better battery range and advancing powertrains.

‘We are proud to welcome Maserati to their new home in world-class motorsport,’ said Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of Formula E. ‘The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the pinnacle of electric racing. It provides the perfect environment for the most dynamic and innovative high-performance car brands to showcase their technological capabilities alongside their sporting ambitions.’

However, as one iconic brand enters the Formula E arena, others make for the exit. Both Audi and BMW quit the sport at the end of the last season, while reigning champions Mercedes is due to leave at the end of 2022. It raises the question of how different manufacturers plan to use motorsport, either as a testing platform or simply a token of prestige.

Due on 26 January, the next Autovista24 podcast will look to answer this question. But we want to know what you think. Is motorsport actually a crucible for automotive technology, or would OEMs be wiser to focus on real-world development? Share your thoughts with us on LinkedIn or Twitter, for your chance to be mentioned in the show. Then go and subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and search for Autovista24 podcast on Amazon Music.