Big bang: Extreme E is "reworking calendar" & cancels upcoming races in 2024, continuation of season unlikely

One week before its third race weekend of the 2024 season, Extreme E has announced that it will rework the race calendar for the final season before switching to Extreme H in 2025. The planned races in Sardinia and Phoenix will not take place. Instead, the racing series is now "reviewing alternative solutions for the remaining rounds". However, a continuation of the season currently seems extremely unrealistic.

The Extreme E racing series has announced in a press release on Friday that it is reworking its race calendar for the current season and cancelling the remaining races. The reasons for this decision were not disclosed.

"The sport for purpose motor racing series Extreme E has today announced that it is reworking its Season 4 calendar, the final events of its electric edition, as it continues its transition to Extreme H – the world’s first hydrogen racing series – kicking off in 2025," the press release reads. "The Championship is reviewing alternative solutions for its remaining rounds, which were scheduled to take place in Sardinia, Italy, and Phoenix, USA"

"As we continue our transition to Extreme H, we are fully committed to becoming the world’s first hydrogen racing series," said Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E. "The investment and progress in the innovations are in full flow. Excitement grows every day as the industry continues to turn its head towards the possibilities hydrogen presents. In this current year of evolution, we all want to find a conclusion to Extreme E, which enables us to finish what we started, whilst at the same time, allows us to commit maximum resource into our Extreme H developments. We are working closely with our teams and stakeholders to find alternative solutions to fulfil Extreme E’s final season schedule."

In addition to the racing series itself, McLaren and Rosberg X Racing, two of the eight remaining Extreme E teams, also released statements.

McLaren: "Disappointing news"

"The NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team has been informed that the current season of the Extreme E Championship – Season 4 – will not be proceeding as planned," said a statement from the McLaren team. "The decision to amend the current Extreme E season means planned races in Sardinia and Phoenix will no longer go ahead, and the series is currently reviewing alternatives for these events."

"This is disappointing news as the team was looking forward to getting back on track soon, challenging for podiums and wins and delivering great moments for our fans and partners," the statement continues. "Extreme E has always provided McLaren Racing a perfect platform to push the sport forward with its unique gender-equal driver pairing format, and its environmental focus. We will await further information and updates from Extreme E."

Rosberg: "Respect the decision, but remain optimistic"

"Our team was looking forward to racing in Sardinia next week, but we respect the decision to review alternative solutions for the remaining rounds of Extreme E," said a statement from Rosberg X Racing at X. "While the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the calendar is challenging, we remain optimistic that we will be back on track soon, ending the season on a high. We thank our fans and partners for their continued support. More to come soon..."

Part 1/2: Our team was looking forward to racing in Sardinia next week, but we respect the decision to review alternative solutions for the remaining rounds of Extreme E.

- Rosberg X Racing (@rosbergxracing) September 6, 2024

It is doubtful whether Extreme E will manage to draw up a new race calendar for the 2024 season in September. Races were planned in Sardinia over the next two weekends (14-15 September and 21-22 September) before the season finale in Phoenix (Arizona, USA) on 23 and 24 November. The last season with the Odyssey 21 and its battery-electric drive had already begun with bad news, as ABT Cupra, Chip Ganassi Racing and X44 turned their backs on the racing series before the start of the season.