--- title: "Lewis Hamilton’s Next Adventure Is an Electric Off-Road Racing Team" description: "The F1 champ is now a team owner." date: "2020-09-08" modified: "2020-09-08" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/36260/lewis-hamiltons-next-adventure-is-an-electric-off-road-racing-team" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "Racing" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" --- # Lewis Hamilton’s Next Adventure Is an Electric Off-Road Racing Team ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* Lewis Hamilton is officially joining the club of successful Formula 1 racers turned team owners. However, unlike Bruce McLaren, Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart and other famous names that came before him; Hamilton's chosen to put his millions not in F1, but in the newly-founded Extreme E. The electric off-road racing series announced Tuesday morning the debut of the X44 racing team, founded and financed by none other than the [six-time F1 world champion](). According to the official announcement, the team is expected to make its debut in early 2021 along with other squads owned by the likes of United States' Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport, as well as others from Europe and Asia with previous Formula E experience, such as Abt and Techeetah. Hamilton will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of X44 due to his commitments to F1 and various sponsors, but claims to look forward to playing a different role, as well as further develop his vision for sustainable forms of racing. “Extreme E really appealed to me because of its environmental focus," Hamilton said in a press release. "Every single one of us has the power to make a difference. Not only will we visit remote locations facing the front line of the climate crisis, we will also work closely with these locations and leading climate experts to share our knowledge and leave behind a positive legacy in each location which goes far beyond the race track." https://youtube.com/embed/s7DJ1rWW9C4 Extreme E will use a spec machine, meaning that all teams will be competing with identical equipment, which in this case is the [E-SUV named Odyssey 21](). The high-performance electric racer is manufactured by Spark Racing Technology, and it can go from zero to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds courtesy of near-instant torque, off-road tires designed by Continental, and all-wheel drive. The battery technology was produced by Williams Advanced Engineering, and although [legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey]() was tapped by the racing series late last year, it's unclear what kind of impact he's had in the development of Odyssey 21 so far. You can see Hoonigan-in-chief Ken Block manhandling the Odyssey 21 in the desert [here.]() “Lewis is one of the most successful drivers of all time, and we’re all excited to see how his X44 team performs on and off the race track under his incredible guidance," said Alejandro Agag, Formula E and Extreme E founder and CEO. "A huge welcome to the Extreme E family Lewis!” It's unclear who Hamilton will tap for driving and engineering duties in his team, but it will certainly be interesting to follow X44's development during the coming months. *Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## 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]()