McLaren Exits Formula E as Zak Brown Pursues Triple Crown Glory in One Season
McLaren Racing has announced it will exit the Formula E World Championship, marking a significant shift in its motorsport strategy. CEO Zak Brown revealed that the team is withdrawing to concentrate on an ambitious new goal: achieving motorsport’s prestigious Triple Crown — winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans — all within the same calendar year.
This bold plan represents a realignment of McLaren’s long-term priorities. The team, currently leading the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship and maintaining a strong presence in the IndyCar Series, is now setting its sights on endurance racing. Specifically, McLaren is preparing for a full-time return to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) by 2027, with Le Mans, the crown jewel of endurance racing, being a focal point.
McLaren remains the only constructor to have claimed victories in all three of the Triple Crown events, though never within the same season. Their win at Le Mans in 1995 — accomplished with a car not originally designed for endurance racing — remains one of the brand’s most iconic achievements. Brown believes that surpassing this legacy is possible, and doing so would mark an unprecedented accomplishment in the sport. “Winning Le Mans on our debut thirty years ago was unforgettable,” he said. “But now, our goal is to win Le Mans, Monaco, and Indy all in one year — something no one has done before.”
As part of this realignment, McLaren will step away from Formula E at the end of the current season. The team, which entered the electric series in 2022 under the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team banner, has shown considerable progress during its brief participation. With one race win and six podium finishes, the team currently ranks third in the Teams’ Championship. Rising star Taylor Barnard holds fourth in the Drivers’ Standings, highlighting the competitive level McLaren achieved in just a few seasons.
Zak Brown acknowledged the contributions and accomplishments made in Formula E, calling it a meaningful phase in McLaren’s broader journey. However, he stressed that the decision to exit reflects a strategic move toward even greater goals. “Formula E has a promising future, but our vision lies elsewhere,” he stated. “WEC gives us the opportunity to achieve something truly historic, and we’re fully committed to making that happen.”
McLaren is now actively seeking a buyer for its Formula E operation to ensure the team’s continuity under new ownership. While their departure presents a challenge for Formula E — particularly as it prepares for the 2026–27 season — it also underscores the growing global significance of endurance racing.
With standout drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in F1, and Pato O’Ward excelling in IndyCar with seven wins to his name, McLaren is building a formidable roster capable of challenging for all three Triple Crown races. As preparations intensify for a WEC return, McLaren is aiming not just to revisit its legacy but to redefine it by achieving the ultimate motorsport milestone — all in one season.
