Lewis Hamilton's team quit Extreme E project with immediate effect

Lewis Hamilton and his team X44 are leaving Extreme E, the electric rally racing class, with immediate effect. The British Formula 1 driver was active with his own team for three years, but on the eve of the fourth year, he is pulling the plug.

"After three years as part of the Extreme E family, we’re today announcing that X44 will be departing the series," the team said in a statement. "We’ve had an incredible three seasons competing as X44, winning multiple races and even a world championship."

The team thanked both drivers in the statement, who still have to look for a new employer for the 2024 season. Cristina Gutierrez already found that with McLaren. "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 program."

X44's departure had been in the air for some time, but it is a major blow for the series. Hamilton's team was the most successful team competing after Rosberg X Racing. X44 are not the only team to pull out in the final season before the class switches to using hydrogen.