BMW to continue Formula E involvement with Andretti Autosport

Andretti Autosport will return to Formula E as an independent team after BMW confirmed it would supply its drivetrain for the 2021/22 season.

In December, BMW announced it would be leaving the all-electric championship as a works team at the end of 2020/21 season after “essentially exhausted the opportunities” to develop its technologies within Formula E.

Andretti has been part of Formula E since the inaugural season in 2014 and will compete in the 2021/22 season using the BMW Racing eDrive03 drivetrain.

“We are delighted to be able to continue to support Andretti Formula E,” said Mike Krack, BMW Motorsport head of test and race operations.

“We are convinced that the BMW Racing eDrive03 will allow Andretti Formula E to achieve top results.

“Working purely as a drivetrain supplier, we will no longer be involved directly in events at the racetrack in season eight [2021/22] but we will provide the team with support in response to any technical questions regarding the BMW Racing eDrive03.”

As a works team, BMW has claimed four victories and back-to-back top-five finishes in the teams' championship.

Team boss Roger Griffiths is confident the success can continue when Andretti returns as an independent outfit next season.

“The choice to continue with BMW as our drivetrain supplier for Season 8 was an easy one,” Griffiths added. “Over the last two seasons with the BMW i Andretti Motorsport works programme it has delivered four wins, shown proven reliability and excellent efficiency. 

“The team understands the operational aspects of the BMW Racing eDrive03 well and therefore the expectation is that Andretti Formula E can be highly competitive for the final season of the Gen2 era.”

BMW sees its drivers Maximilian Günther and Jake Dennis line up ninth and 14th respectively for the season-opening ePrix in Diriyah.