what is Formula E?
The basics
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The race cars featured in the series are similar in style to the hybrid-drive cars of Formula 1.
The series was created in 2011 by former FIA President Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, the current chairman of Formula E holdings, with the inaugural championship race held in Beijing in September 2014.
Since the 2020/21 season, FE became an FIA World Championship, making it the first single-seater racing series outside of F1 to be given world championship status.
Formula E aims to accelerate change towards an electric future, operating as a testbed to drive the development of new technologies needed for an electric and low-carbon future. The championship uses the spectacle of motorsport to send a powerful message to help alter perceptions and speed up the switch to electric mobility.
Image via fiaformulae.com
Image via fiaformulae.com
the FORMAT
Racing generally takes place on temporary city-centre street circuits which are around 1.9km - 3.4km long.
The format of a Formula E race weekend is as follows: on a Friday there is a 30-minute practice session, followed by another 30-minute session on a Saturday.
Also, on a Saturday is qualifying, which is broken down into a number of stages: the Group stage sees two groups of 11 drivers, ordered based on their Drivers' World Championship position, battling at 300kW to set lap times each in a 10-minute session. The fastest 4 from each Group stage progress into the Duels stage, where the 2 winners from each group compete against one another head-to-head in a knockout at 350kW. Then, the eventual quickest from each group face off in the Final Duel. The winning driver of the Final Duel takes Julius Baer Pole Position, while the runner-up lines up second. The Semi-finalists will line up third and fourth, the Quarter-finalists between fifth and eighth in accordance to their lap times.
The fifth to 12th-placed drivers who competed in the polesitter's Group stage will fill the odd positions on the grid. The corresponding drivers from the other group will be classified in the even grid slots. Therefore, if the polesitter comes from Group 1, the fifth placed driver in Group 1 will line up ninth on the starting grid and the fifth placed driver in Group 2 takes 10th etc…
Following qualifying comes the E-Prix, where the driver’s line-up on a dummy grid – a short distance behind the actual grid, and slowly file into position to start the race with a standing start. The E-Prix lasts for a predetermined number of laps. However, laps can be added for Safety Car and Full Course Yellow interruptions, with the total laps to be added announced three laps prior to the end of the E-Prix.
Whilst most events take place over a single day in order to minimise disruption to the host city, some stretch over two days with double the amount of action – these are referred to as double-headers. During double-header weekends, the schedules are mirrored from each day, with only one 45-minute practice session on the second day.
the points
Similar to other motorsport series, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship consists of two separate titles – one dedicated to the drivers and another dedicated to the teams.
Formula E follows a standard points system, used in other FIA-sanctioned series – awarding points to the top-10 finishers: 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1. A point for fastest lap is also awarded, however the driver must finish in the top-10 to gain the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap. 3-points are also awarded for securing Julius Baer Pole Position.
Image via fiaformulae.com
Image via fiaformulae.com
the cars & Tyres
New for Season 9 (2022/23 season), will be the Gen3 cars, with 350kW of power, capable of 320kmh and can regenerate 600KWh of energy.
Also, new for Season 9 will be ATTACK CHARGE, allowing the newer, smaller, and lighter Gen3 cars to receive an in-race energy boost via a pit stop. This mandatory 30-second stop will unlock two Attack Mode periods with the cars running at 350kW vs the stock 300kW.
Formula E uses bespoke 18-inch treaded all-weather tyres supplied by Hankook. Each driver can use no more than four new rear and four new front tyres for each event. For a double-header, drivers are given six front and rear tyres to use across the whole weekend.
Charging the car is prohibited during both qualifying and the race, as well as throughout Parc Ferme and scrutineering. Teams can charge the cars in-between sessions and during practice.
Now that’s the basics of Formula E, click below to keep up with the news, see the series’ schedule, meet the teams and drivers and check the standings
