The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team is facing a significant transformation as it prepares for the Gen4 era. The prestigious McLaren name likely to exit the electric racing series after the 24/25 season.
According to media reports, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has informed team principal Ian James that McLaren will not continue its involvement into the Gen4 period. This necessitates new commercial partnerships, naming rights, and manufacturer alliances for the team’s survival.
The current Formula E outfit emerged from the former Mercedes EQ team in 2022. McLaren entered the Gen3 regulations with significant backing from Saudi Arabian ‘future city’ project NEOM. This structure included a technical partnership with Nissan, which supplies the team’s powertrain.
Team Principal remains optimistic about Formula E’s future
“If I take a look at where we stand today on the manufacturer side of things, the fact that in Gen4 we’ve got Nissan, Porsche, Jaguar, Yamaha now together with Lola all signed up – I’d be very surprised if Stellantis didn’t formally announce something in the not-too-distant future – that as a championship, together with 11 teams, is actually quite a healthy position to be in.“ James told The Race in Miami earlier this month.
“But we now need to look at all the other elements of it and make sure they’re equally as healthy. So that the way that we structure the revenue proposition for both the investors and for the teams themselves works. Then I think it’s all to play for.”
McLaren shifts focus to Le Mans programme
The arrangement with title partner NEOM reportedly extends until 2026 with an option for an additional four years. Sources suggest this option will not be exercised, contributing to McLaren’s shift towards a Le Mans hypercar programme instead.
More comprehensive details about McLaren’s sports car racing ambitions are expected at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. These announcements will likely include confirmation that outgoing Jaguar Formula E team principal James Barclay will lead McLaren’s sportscar endeavours from 2026.
Barclay and James maintain a close professional relationship within the Formula E community. James may have backed Barclay for the job despite previously being able to expand his role within McLaren’s endurance racing operations.
Fourth evolution looms for team’s Formula E journey
With the Formula E team requiring fresh investment and restructuring for Gen4 without the McLaren branding, James is likely to focus on securing the fourth chapter of the team’s licence. This began as HWA Racelab in 2018 before evolving through Mercedes and then McLaren identities.
The Formula E team’s licence is currently held by McLaren Electric Racing Ltd. James and Brown are listed among the company’s four directors. Sources indicate James has been actively seeking new investors since early 2025. The move aims to establish a revitalised team ahead of the 2026-27 season when Gen4 regulations come into effect.
Negotiations underway for Gen4 manufacturer partnership
The team is currently in discussions with all registered manufacturers for the Gen4 period. Thus, the structure formerly known as McLaren is expected to finalise arrangements by late May. According to The Race, James remains confident the team can enter this new regulatory era largely intact, supported by new investors and a robust manufacturer partnership.
The transition from a full manufacturer outfit as Mercedes to a customer team under McLaren has presented challenges. Senior team figures have reportedly expressed frustration with limitations imposed by the cost cap, which restricted their technical autonomy compared to their previous incarnation.
These concerns, combined with Brown’s personal preference for traditional motorsport and his enthusiasm for a factory-backed Le Mans effort amid the global manufacturer endurance racing resurgence, have pushed the team toward another significant reinvention as it approaches the conclusion of season 11.
