The Future of Motorsport

The Future of Motorsport

Neal Coupland, Sports Partnership Director at NEOM, introduces Formula E and explains why Season 7 will be the biggest yet.

Now more than ever we can see the positive role sport can play in leading the way to a brighter and better future. During the COVID-19 pandemic sport has played a vital part in both physical and mental wellbeing as we navigate these uncertain times. From football leagues across Europe to cricket in the Middle East, professional sport has provided fans with inspiration and entertainment, at a time when people needed it most.

We have seen sport become an even stronger platform for positive social change with athletes, teams and governing bodies leading the way to highlight important issues such as diversity and equality to sport fans across the globe. A message that was clear in recent weeks as Lewis Hamilton pledged to continue his fight for equality and sustainability after clinching his seventh Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship.

Like Lewis, at NEOM we see how sport can help champion our values, including the important topic of sustainability.

As the world’s climate change challenge becomes more pressing, we see an opportunity to be at the forefront of a positive reaction in the sporting community, through our involvement in the world’s first net carbon zero sport, Formula E.

Founded in 2014, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is about to enter its seventh season, as the sport continues to pioneer the future of racing and set new standards in sustainability. More than just a racing series, Formula E has a mission to advance electric vehicle technology, shaping the road cars of the future and helping to create a cleaner future, faster.

At NEOM we are excited to share those goals through our pioneering partnership with the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team. The partnership is founded on a shared vision to pursue pioneering ideas and accelerate NEOM’s bold ambitions to create a land of the future where the greatest minds are empowered to exceed boundaries.

The race towards a new future is on, and so is the new Formula E season! The Mercedes-Benz EQ team will start its campaign on a high following a one-two victory in the final race of last season in Berlin and a third-place overall finish in the championship.

As a sports fan, I can’t wait for light’s out. There is so much to look forward to in a sport that delivers unpredictable, intense, action-packed racing on the streets of some of the world’s greatest cities. The unpredictability is a big part of what separates Formula E from other formats of motorsport with an increased focus on the skill of the driver, with all teams benefitting from largely the same Gen2 technology, with only road-relevant technologies able to be developed by manufacturers, as they look to test and develop technologies for their cars of the future. This race to road development is something we at NEOM are passionate about as we seek to pioneer the at-scale use of electric vehicles in everyday life.

This season, which begins with the Santiago E-Prix in January and will see two races in Saudi Arabia in February, takes on a new level of prestige. It sees Formula E granted FIA World Championship status for the first time, placing the series at the top tier of international motorsport alongside iconic events such as Formula One and the World Rally Championship. With races taking place on home soil we hope inspire and nurture the next generation of Saudi talent through our driver development and graduate programme in partnership with the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team.

A new sport, not burdened with traditions and heritage, Formula E is constantly evolving as one of the world’s fastest growing sports. As an exciting fan-focussed sport with a commitment to the environment and developing cutting-edge technology, the sport is one we are excited to be part of. The race to a new future is on!