---
title: "Mercedes EQ Becomes Major Sponsor in Formula E Ahead of Its Official Entry"
description: "The Mercedes-Benz EQ brand will be a major presence at the European leg of the 2018 Formula E season."
date: "2018-03-30"
modified: "2018-03-30"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19779/mercedes-eq-becomes-major-sponsor-in-formula-e-ahead-of-its-official-entry"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "EQ"
  - "FIA"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "Mercedes-EQ"
  - "racing"
---

# Mercedes EQ Becomes Major Sponsor in Formula E Ahead of Its Official Entry

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/the_mercedes-ben__concept_eqa_-_the_latest_edition_to_the_eq_range.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Mercedes-Benz made a major push this week to promote its new, electrified "EQ" brand on the world stage. The automaker is opting to accelerate its involvement with the fully electric [Formula E](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18979/audis-daniel-abt-scores-maiden-formula-e-win-in-mexico-city>) racing series, despite its official entry as a racing team not happening for another year.

According to a statement, the partnership between Mercedes EQ and Formula E will come in the form of on-track advertising and event naming-rights. The Mercedes EQ sponsorship will be visible to racing fans across the globe through TV broadcasts and [live-streaming](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18889/formula-e-will-begin-live-streaming-races-on-twitter>) as early as April 14, when the Rome E-Prix presented by Mercedes EQ gets underway on the streets of Italy's capital city. Following the partnership's Italian debut, the German automaker will also sponsor the remainder of the series's European leg which includes street circuits in Paris, Berlin, and Zurich.

![message-editor%2F1522423776325-gen-2-formula-e\_nyc2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1522423776325-gen-2-formula-e_nyc2.jpg>)
*The FIA Formula E Gen2 car will debut in season five (2018-2019)., *FIA**

“It’s great news to see a name like Mercedes-Benz increase its ties with the series to showcase their new EQ brand ahead of entering Formula E as a competitor in season six," said [Alejandro Agag](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19030/second-generation-formula-e-race-car-steals-the-spotlight-in-geneva>), founder and CEO of Formula E. "The direction and mindset of road car manufacturers is switching to electric and Formula E is the most relevant platform to develop and promote this change. Companies like Mercedes-Benz pushing for e-mobility again shows the unstoppable nature of the revolution currently taking place in the motor industry.”

Mercedes-Benz, along with its brands Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes EQ, and Smart is pushing forward at full-throttle into the world of electrified and fully electric vehicles. The brand's announcement that it will join Formula E as a competitor in the series' season six (2019-2020) didn't come as a surprise, especially given [Nico Rosberg's comments](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/16659/f1-champ-nico-rosberg-considering-move-to-formula-e>) about his desire to join the electric championship. Could the former F1 champ with Mercedes-AMG return to drive for the three-pointed-star in Formula E? Only time will tell.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)