London at risk as Formula E faces calendar dilemma in Gen4 era

Q: What are the key features of the Formula E Gen4 car?

The Gen4 car has a top speed of 208mph, a peak power output of 804bhp, and is 87kg heavier, 439mm longer, and 90mm wider than its predecessor.

Q: Why is Formula E considering changes to its race calendar for 2026-27?

The series is debating whether to continue using city-center street venues or switch to more traditional tracks due to the enhanced performance of the Gen4 car.

Q: Where was the Gen4 car launched?

The Gen4 car was launched at Circuit Paul Ricard in France.

Q: How does the Gen4 car's performance compare to the Gen3 Evo?

The Gen4 car offers approximately 70% more power than the Gen3 Evo, significantly enhancing its performance capabilities.

Motorsport photo

When Formula E launched its Gen4 car on Tuesday at Circuit Paul Ricard, a much-discussed paddock topic was the yet to be announced calendar for the 2026-27 campaign when it will make its debut. That is because the all-electric championship faces a dilemma over whether to stick to its mantra of city-centre, street venues, to or visit more traditional and permanent tracks due to the insane performance of its new car.

The Gen4 has a top speed of 208mph with a peak power output of 804bhp – approximately 70% more than its predecessor, the Gen3 Evo – but the key is in its weight and size. It will be 87kg heavier, 439mm longer and 90mm wider, a significant step up from previous Formula E machines, and its scale really did take the audience back when it launched off the line for a demo run in the south of France.

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With this step forwards in performance comes the issue that it may not be able to race at the circuits that the championship previously used, because if one thinks it is tricky for a Formula 1 car to race at places like Monaco, then it’ll be a similar problem for Formula E with the Gen4 just 110mm narrower than the all-new 2026 car.

And this puts London at risk. The British capital has been on the calendar with its ExCeL venue since 2021 and has proven to be a proper fan favourite – traditionally being the season finale. However, it is a very tight track with bendy sections such as Turns 10-13 and 18-20.

“It’s just a bigger, more muscular car, so it really has opened up circuits to us that we haven’t considered,” said championship CEO Jeff Dodds. “The bad side is there are circuits we love that we race on currently that it means the Gen4 car is going to find it very difficult to race on.

“London in the ExCeL, which is a fan favourite, a race that I really love personally, it’s already tight when those Gen3 Evo cars come out of the indoor section into the outdoor section and they’ve got a tight bottleneck that comes up.

“You simply won’t be able to do that in a Gen4 car. It would be too dangerous, it would be too complex. It would make for a very complex race.”

The Gen4 car is larger, heavier and faster than the Gen3 Evo

So, all signs are pointing to this year’s race, the final round of the 2025/26 season on 15-16 August, being the last for Formula E in London as it looks towards other venues and will submit its calendar proposal to the World Motor Sport Council in June.

It’s not yet known what will replace it, but general paddock chat puts Brands Hatch in the firing line as London’s obvious replacement. Yes, it’s not a city centre venue, but it’s rather easy to get to from the capital and, with the historic circuit lacking that headline event, it could really make Formula E its own.

Madrid’s Jarama has also set the benchmark, as the ex-grand prix venue made its debut in March and was a genuinely well-received event with a top atmosphere. Times are therefore changing and although one could argue that it means Formula E is losing its unique selling point, its chief championship officer and co-founder Alberto Longo holds the opposing view.