Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing has announced it will be ceasing operations following four years competing in Extreme E.
The team — centered around its #DrivenbyPurpose campaign throughout its existence and led by 2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg — competed in the all-electric off-road series since its inception, being the seventh team to sign on ahead of its inaugural season in 2021 after Andretti, Chip Ganassi Racing, Techeetah (which ended up not competing), X44, Abt, and Veloce Racing.
Rosberg described his team’s closure as “bittersweet.”
“Building RXR wasn’t just about racing; it was about creating a purpose-driven team that could make a real difference,” he said. “From our championship wins to our environmental and equality initiatives, we’ve accomplished so much together. While it’s bittersweet to close this chapter, I am proud of what we’ve achieved.”
With nine wins from 24 races and two championship titles, RXR was Extreme E’s most successful team. It won the first season, with Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor claiming three event victories from five — including the first event in Saudi Arabia — to defeat Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team which had Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez as its drivers that year.
Taylor departed the team ahead of the second season, with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky taking her place, and the duo of Kristoffersson and Ahlin-Kottulinsky won another two events, but finished second to X44 after technical issues in the penultimate round in Chile, and a crash at the season finale in Uruguay derailed their hopes of retaining the title.
“RXR gave me the chance to push boundaries, race with purpose, and grow in ways I never imagined,” said Ahlin-Kottulinsky, who, with six victories, ends her Extreme E run as the series’ second-most successful female driver behind Taylor who went on to have success with Veloce Racing following her departure from RXR. “From our championship wins to our driven-by-purpose campaign to planting thousands of trees and inspiring kids, this journey has been unforgettable.
“I’ll also forever be grateful for the opportunity to learn, besides Johan, who is now a 7-time World Rallycross champion. While I’ll miss the team, I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me next.”
Extreme E expanded to a 10-round schedule (across five events still) in Season 3 and RXR was once again series champion courtesy of three wins in Sardinia and Chile. It began the curtailed 2024 season with another win in Saudi Arabia, but slipped to third in the standings after a run of three fourth-place finishes before the season was halted after the Hydro X Prix in Scotland in order for the series to focus its efforts into its re-invention as the hydrogen-powered Extreme H for 2025.
“Winning two championships was an incredible achievement, but what stands out most is the impact we made beyond racing,” said Kristoffersson, who dovetailed his Extreme E commitments with RXR with a sustained presence in World Rallycross, where he won the championship consecutively from 2021-24, adding to his earlier triumphs in 2017, ’18 and ’20. “This has been more than a racing team; it’s been a family, and I’m grateful for all the great times.”
The decision to shut up shop means that RXR won’t be competing in Extreme H when it debuts in 2025, something that was all but confirmed in a team statement shared on social media which concluded, “Wishing Extreme H and all the teams competing next year every success as they pioneer a new era in hydrogen-powered motorsport.” So far, other teams have been coy on their involvement in the revamped series, but SUN Minimeal and Veloce Racing are among those that have signaled their intent to continue.
“This chapter of RXR has been really great,” said RXR’s managing director of commercial operations Maximilian Wasler. “It’s rare to find a team so committed to winning and making a difference. I’m proud of our achievements and look forward to seeing how the legacy of RXR will inspire future endeavors.”