F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Race Team Quits After Bad News For League

Lewis Hamilton's Extreme E team, X44, opts out of the final season amid the series' transition to a hydrogen-powered future.

Lewis Hamilton's Extreme E racing team, X44, has announced they will not participate in the all-electric series' final season. The decision comes after the league revealed plans to discontinue the series, replacing it with a hydrogen-powered championship.

Key Takeaways:

• Championship Departure: The X44 team, inspired by Lewis Hamilton's race number and a formidable competitor since the inception of Extreme E in 2021, will not compete in the series' last season in 2024. Despite their 2022 championship win and a history of success, the team has chosen to exit the competition early.
• Series Shift: Extreme E, known for its focus on climate change awareness through electric SUV off-road races, will end after the 2024 season. The series, backed significantly by the FIA, will make way for a new hydrogen-powered championship, signaling a shift in the motorsport industry's approach to sustainability.
• Hamilton's Legacy: Beyond the competition, X44 prides itself on contributing to the dialogue around sustainable motorsport and promoting diversity within their team. Their exit is marked by gratitude towards team members and drivers, including champions Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez, and an emphasis on the Racing for All program initiated by Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton's Extreme E team, X44, which has been a significant player in the electric racing series since its inception, will not be competing in what has been announced as the final season of Extreme E. The team captured the championship in 2022, demonstrating their prowess in the innovative series designed to highlight the impacts of climate change through electric SUV racing.

Despite their success, and with a notable championship under their belt, X44 has decided to withdraw from the competition. This decision coincides with the announcement that Extreme E will be replaced by a hydrogen-powered series, named Extreme H, a move that reflects a broader shift towards exploring different sustainable energy sources in motorsport.

The X44 statement highlighted their achievements with a final goodbye:

“We’ve had an incredible three seasons competing as X44, winning multiple races and even a world championship.

"Thank you to our drivers Cristina, Fraser and Seb, and all our talented team-mates who worked hard to help us achieve everything we did.

"Even more than the results on track, we’re proud to have been part of a bigger conversation about how to make motorsport more sustainable, of our success in giving people from all kinds of backgrounds an opportunity to thrive in this team, and of the legacy our team owner Lewis will leave behind with the Racing for All programme."

The transition to Extreme H represents an ongoing evolution in the pursuit of environmentally friendly motorsport solutions. While X44 will not compete in the upcoming 2024 season, their support for the series and interest in the developments of Extreme H indicate a continued commitment to sustainable racing practices.

As the motorsport community awaits the debut of Extreme H, the legacy of teams like X44 and their contributions to raising awareness around sustainability issues in racing will undoubtedly influence future generations and the direction of the industry.