Dilbagh Gill, the head of the Mahindra Formula E team since it was founded at the outset of the all-electric championship, will step down from his position this month.
Gill has been present for all but two of the 100 races in which Mahindra has participated in the Formula E championships. He has overseen the team’s five E-Prix victories since 2014 with Felix Rosenqvist, Jerome d’Ambrosio, and Alex Lynn.
The 56-year old will be leaving the team the coming week in what looks to be an unforeseen adjustment to the team’s structure according to The Race.
This previous season, Oliver Rowland and Alexander Sims combined for 46 points to finish in eighth place, marking Mahindra’s poorest Formula E campaign to date.
It’s not thought that Lucas di Grassi’s arrival and Gill’s departure were connected. The winner for the 2016–17 season, who was crowned in the final game in Seoul last month, is rumored to have a deal provision that allows him to occupy a prospective management post in the future.
Although Josef Holden, the team’s performance director, is reputed to be highly regarded both within and outside the organization, it is yet unknown who will fill Gill’s vacant role.
“Mahindra Racing would like to thank Dilbagh Gill for his contribution, hard work and loyalty,” Mahindra tweeted. “After nine years in the role of CEO and Team Principal of our Formula E team, overseeing 100 races, 5 race wins and 23 podiums, Dilbagh is moving on.”
“We wish him all the best for his future challenges – he will always be a part of our electric story.”
Gill was known for his larger-than-life personality, and he was a buoyant presence in the Formula E paddock. After being announced back in November 2020, he supervised Mahindra becoming the first manufacturer to agree to the new Gen3 rules set.
His abrupt departure marks the end of a 16-year relationship with the Mahindra Group. He spent the eight years before that as the vice president of sports practice and advisory relations for Tech Mahindra in the USA. The IT operations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa fell within the scope of that role.
Gill held the position of chair for the Formula E Teams and Manufacturers Association from 2016 to 2018 while working for the Mahindra FE team. He has spent 16 years working with the Mahindra Group in total.
He also played a key role in making Mahindra the first FIA World Championship competitor to receive a net zero carbon footprint certification. He and ABT signed a partnership in July, under which Mahindra powertrains would start selling to the German technical firm starting in 2023.
Reports suggest that Gill will participate in a manufacturer group test that has been expressly organized for Varano, Italy, the following week while the FIA supervises more testing of the new car. Di Grassi will be present at the test together with current teammate Rowland. Di Grassi tested the car during a filming day last week.
