MBP are delighted to announce that Jake Hughes has joined the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team for the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Joining the team for Season 9, Jake lines up alongside René Rast in the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team and as he embarks on his rookie campaign in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Jake, from Birmingham, UK, brings a wealth of single-seater experience and success to the team. Crowned the BRDC Formula 4 champion in 2013, Jake completed a 2-year stint in several Formula Renault Championships, finishing second in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps in 2015. Jake went on to secure numerous Formula 3 race wins between 2016 and 2020 before graduating to Formula 2 for the 2022 season.
Since 2020, Jake has held a reserve and development driver role in Formula E during Season 7 and Season 8 with the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, being instrumental to the team’s World Championship successes during those seasons.
Hughes has prior experience of driving Formula E machinery, having appeared twice at the Official Rookie Tests - for the NIO 333 team in 2019 and the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team in 2020. Jake also joined Mercedes’ customer team Venturi Formula E as its reserve driver for the 2020/21 season.
Now, he will compete in Formula E on a full-time basis with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team when the season launches with official testing next month (13 – 16 December 2022, in Valencia, Spain) ahead of the first round, the Mexico City E-Prix, on 14 January 2023.
Season 9 will see the debut of the third generation machine - the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built. The seventeen-round championship will visit 13 countries across the 2023 season and will feature at three new venues: Hyderabad, India; Cape Town, South Africa and São Paulo, Brazil.
Jake Hughes, Driver, the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said:
“First and foremost, I’m very proud and feel very privileged to become part of the McLaren Racing family, being given the chance to represent such a prestigious brand. Growing up, McLaren was one of the teams that inspired me to start racing. To now go full circle, representing the team myself in Formula E feels incredible. I’ve obviously been with the Formula E team in a different guise before and we have already achieved great results. It’s good to have that relationship and I know what’s expected of me.”“Coming in at a time where a new generation car is introduced in the series excites me. It feels like a good opportunity and chance, especially being a rookie in Season 9. It’s set to be a great year and I can’t wait to kick off the journey ahead!”
Mark Blundell, Founder & CEO, MB Partners, said:
“We are hugely proud of Jake for stepping up to a full-time race seat in Formula E with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. It’s a huge testament to not only his raw speed and talent, but his devotion and development with the team over the years in his reserve driver role. MB Partners have managed Jake since 2019, and being a part of his journey, from F3 to F2 to Formula E reserve and now a full time seat with the iconic McLaren brand, has been very special. His hardwork, dedication and talent has rewarded him this fantastic opportunity and I’m certain Jake can achieve great things with the team in Formula E.”
Ian James, Managing Director, NEOM McLaren Electric Racing & Team Principal, the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said:
“Today’s announcement feels like a long time coming. Since May this year, when we first announced McLaren Racing’s entry into Formula E, we have been working tirelessly to get in place the best possible team and structure for sustainable success. On the one hand, we have been working on the retention of the amazing talent that already was in place before going into the transitional phase. I’m proud to say I think we’ve done a great job on that front. On the other hand, we have been focusing on putting in place new processes and new talent – and the latter includes the drivers.”
“I’m excited to work together with René and Jake this upcoming season. They are both incredibly talented people, and I think they will both bring something different to the mix. René has shown his race craft over and over again in every series he has competed in to date. He is not only extremely fast, but also consistent, and has valuable previous experience in Formula E, which will be of great help both to the team and himself.”
“Jake is an exciting talent, who we have worked with before as our Reserve and Development driver. Over the years, the team and Jake have built a relationship, and that, combined with his sheer talent, will be what can give us an edge going into this season. We’ve given Jake a chance to prove himself on the big stage in Season 9, and his story is a perfect example of the talent development that we believe in as a team.
”Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“I am delighted to announce our full driver line-up for our inaugural season in Formula E. A hugely exciting prospect in single seater competition, Jake also has a history with the team as a development and reserve driver. Alongside René, who is particularly skilled in a wide range of series, which includes previous experience in Formula E, I believe that this pairing will be crucial in helping us hit the ground running in our first season in the series as the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.”