Flat-out and energy saving: How Formula E’s Gen4 race format is taking shape

“There is a value or a percentage of lift-off that the drivers have to do over a race in order to reach the chequered flag with the available energy. That's basically a percentage of the race you cannot go flat-out.

“Of course, if you shorten the race and give them the same energy, you have a much lower percentage value, and that represents a much more traditional race where everybody goes flat-out up to the chequered flag. We have the capacity to play with that value in Gen4.

“Part of the discussion today is how we can integrate that performance showcase of the car, plus the efficiency showcase that has been in the DNA of Formula E since its inception.

“We are open to seeing different or significant race distances, one day to the other, for different reasons. First, because spectators will be capable of seeing how fast the car is in a pure race environment without having to manage a lot of energy.

“And the second, because from day one to day two, you can have totally different races with totally different set-ups for the teams and totally different strategies for the drivers.”

Pablo Martino, FIA head of Formula E

Pablo Martino, FIA head of Formula E

While the FIA remains open to introducing shorter races, Formula E is not looking to replicate the sprint format seen in Formula 1 and other categories.

“Rather than sprint and feature races, we think it's more of a performance race and a race that is more focused on efficiency,” Martino clarified.

“Races are races and the winners are winners, regardless of the number of laps that a race has or the distance that has to be covered during a race.

“At the end of the day, we understand that you give racing drivers the same cards or the same platform to play. We don't see a value in reducing the importance of one race in comparison to the other. That's why we don't want to call them a sprint or main race, if we go in that direction.”

Why drivers need to take a "careful look at damage they take"

Since the start of the Gen2 era, Formula E cars have generally been relatively tolerant to damage, allowing drivers to race aggressively against each other without the risk of losing too much bodywork.

But with Gen4 placing greater emphasis on aerodynamics, even small damage could have a much bigger impact on performance. The jury is out on how the new technical regulations will affect wheel-to-wheel combat in Formula E.

“Probably the most impactful change of the next generation is that drivers will need to take a little bit more careful look at the damage they take to the car,” Martino said.

“In all the previous generations of Formula E, the aerodynamics of the car were less important than in other championships, so loose parts or broken parts didn't have a significant impact on the performance of the car.

“That's not going to happen in a similar way in Gen4, so that will probably change a little bit the behaviour of some of the drivers on track, but it will not change the racing style.

“We still expect to have races where efficiency will be important to be managed. And of course, that will drive the championship not to have flat-out races, and drivers having to manage the energy available in order to get to the chequered flag.

“As part of the DNA of Formula E, we expect to continue having packed races and really intense races up to the very last lap.”

Norman Nato, Andretti Global, Porsche 99X Electric Gen3, Edoardo Mortara, Mahindra Racing, Mahindra M9Electro, as Sam Bird, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, e-4ORCE 04, enters the Attack Zone

Norman Nato, Andretti Global, Porsche 99X Electric Gen3, Edoardo Mortara, Mahindra Racing, Mahindra M9Electro, as Sam Bird, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, e-4ORCE 04, enters the Attack Zone

Both Attack Mode and Pit Boost will remain central to strategy in Formula E and the FIA is even considering making fast charging mandatory in every race, rather than just one leg of a double header.

“The only thing that is under discussion today is if we decide to move to a more ‘performance race’ with a lower lift-off value and reduced distance, whether we have a Pit Boost in that race or not. That's the only question,” he explained.

“But for what we know as the typical race today of 40 to 45 minutes, with the full capacity energy where there is a need for the drivers to manage the energy available in order to get to the chequered flag, for those races we will deploy the Pit Boost.”

Teams, the FIA and the Formula E Operations (FEO) held a meeting at Paul Ricard at the end of last month, just days after the official launch of the Gen4 car at the same venue.

The FIA hopes to finalise the sporting regulations in the coming weeks before presenting them for approval at the next World Motor Sport Council meeting on 23 June.

Outside of the race format, several other changes to the sporting regulations are also planned. The mid-cycle evo upgrade cycle will be replaced by a World Endurance Championship-style token system, while teams will be allowed two additional operational personnel to manage the increased complexity of the Gen4 car.

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