As Formula E approaches the conclusion of its landmark 10th season with an exhilarating double-header in London, the all-electric racing series has firmly cemented its place in the motorsport landscape since its inaugural race in 2014.
The origins of Formula E trace back to a shared vision between Alejandro Agag and then-FIA president Jean Todt in 2011. Recognizing the potential and necessity for sustainability in motorsports, the FIA launched Formula E with the aim to captivate a younger audience and elucidate the prowess of battery-powered vehicles.
The Early Years
During its debut season, Formula E saw ten teams compete using the Spark-Renault SRT 01E car, with notable contributions from McLaren and Williams in developing the initial motors and batteries. These first-generation cars were capable of reaching top speeds of 140mph but had a significant limitation—drivers had to swap cars mid-race due to battery constraints. This quirk, though fascinating, highlighted the series’ early challenges.
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) faced skepticism at the outset. "Back then, anybody who talked about electric cars were either crazy or green activists," recalls Lucas di Grassi, a prominent driver in the series. Yet, as the seasons progressed, the championship evolved from a mere startup into a consolidated, multi-continent, multi-manufacturer series. “The championship was a start-up; now it’s a consolidated, multi-continent, multi-national, multi-manufacturer series that still has a lot to improve but has grown massively from the start,” di Grassi added.
Technological Advancements and Growth
The transition to the second-generation cars marked a significant milestone. These vehicles, with a top speed of 173mph, eliminated the need for the impractical mid-race car swaps, proving the technological strides in battery efficiency and performance.
Continuing this trajectory, the current 'gen 3' cars now boast racing speeds up to 200mph, underlining the series’ rapid technological and competitive evolution. Development is already underway for the 'gen 4' cars, planned for season 13 and beyond, promising even more advancements.
Impact of Major Manufacturers
Formula E has attracted considerable interest from major automotive manufacturers. British stalwart Jaguar made a dramatic return to competitive racing in the third season after a 12-year hiatus, signaling the series' growing prestige. More recently, Mercedes-EQ dominated the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons by securing both driver and team titles.
However, the championship faced a pivotal moment when industry giants Audi, BMW, and Mercedes decided to exit by the 2022-23 campaign. McLaren Racing saw an opportunity, acquiring the world champions' outfit following Mercedes' departure.
Porsche, another automotive behemoth, has solidified its commitment to the series, having joined five years ago with plans to stay through 2030. Jeff Dodds of Porsche underscored the logical alignment of the automaker's strategy with the series, stating, “If racing is in your DNA, like Porsche, and you're going to be producing only electric cars, then it's perfectly logical to race in a world championship that's electric.”
Challenges and Future Prospects
The journey has not been without its challenges. Zak Brown of McLaren pointed to broadcasting as a critical area for improvement, emphasizing, “Definitely more free-to-air. Right now, the fanbase isn’t big enough… Trend fans are not going to stumble across it. That's what it needs to work on.” Jeff Dodds echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of easy accessibility for fans: “You don't want anybody in any of our prime markets asking the question, 'where can I watch it?' That's a pretty bad outcome for a sport. So that's a problem that we have to solve in a long-term way.”
Despite these hurdles, Formula E’s commitment to sustainability continues to resonate. "Sustainability was a big factor. We take that very seriously," said Zak Brown. "F1 is really big in America but IndyCar gives us icing on the cake. Sustainability, doing great in F1, very important to us; Formula E gives us another icing on the cake."
The sport's growth trajectory and technological advancements signal a promising future. With the 'gen 4' cars on the horizon and a pivotal London double-header to conclude its 10th season, Formula E is poised to further solidify its standing as a premier global championship while championing the cause of sustainable racing.