Maserati to return to racing

Maserati’s storied history in motorsport is set to enter a all-new chapter, with the Italian carmaker announcing they will enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2023.

The first Italian brand to compete in Formula E, Maserati’s participation in the all-electric motorsport category is described as a renewal of the racing spirit in the brand’s DNA. Maserati’s last factory-backed effort was in the GT class in 2010, but the drought in single-seater competition goes all the way back to 1957.

Back then, the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and Jean Behra piloted the last factory-entered 250Fs in Formula 1. Privateers continued to run 250Fs until the end of the 1960 season and Maserati was an engine provider to several F1 teams, including Cooper, until the late 1960s.

Maserati say their commitment to electric mobility, as demonstrated by the upcoming Formula E campaign and their all-electric ‘Folgore’ road car range, is “powered by a lightning surge of new energy”.

The carmaker adds that the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will provide them with a perfect platform to showcase both their unprecedented racing heritage and their Folgore electric technology in an environment where high performance and innovation powerfully co-exist.

“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’s why we decided to go back to racing in the FIA Formula E World Championship, taking ‘the Trident’ forward into the future”.

Maserati will make their Formula E debut in 2023’s Season 9, at the same time the new Gen 3 cars will also debut. Maserati’s arrival fills a gap left by the departure of Audi and BMW last year, while Mercedes-Benz will wind up their factory campaign at the end of Season 8 this year.

The full grid for Formula E’s Season 9 is far from finalised, but Maserati will most likely be racing alongside the existing Jaguar, Porsche, DS, Mahindra and Nissan factory teams, along with privateers.

Described as the fastest, lightest, most powerful Formula E racing car ever, the Gen3 cars that will come online in 2023 are also said to be the world’s most efficient racing car, thanks to industry-leading design, production and technological innovations.

“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,” said Jean-Marc Finot, Senior VP, Stellantis Motorsport. “It is a great pleasure for Stellantis Motorsport to play a part in getting Maserati back in the race. Beyond this piece of history. Formula E is the perfect Championship for this purpose and we are very proud to be the first Italian brand to join in.”