In the world of motorsports, three sports tend to dominate headlines and broadcasts: Formula One, Indycar, and NASCAR. Many times, other motorsports get delegated to delayed tapes, non-cable networks (USA, Fox Sports 1, etc.), or subscription services like Peacock. MotoGP, for example, only gets a few live broadcasts a year on what was NBCSN (now, who knows), and the only other way to watch it is to pay ~$170/year or ~$35/month. However, it is worth the price as subscribers get access to every session (tests, practice, qualifying, and race) for every race weekend. However, this piece is not about MotoGP. It is about Formula E, another series lacking support from a major broadcast network. In 2021, Formula E was carried by CBS, having most races on the CBS Sports Network and the CBS Sports app. Before talking about why people tend to avoid Formula E, it would be a good idea to touch on what Formula E actually is.
What is Formula E?
Formula E is a single-seater, spec racing series sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Sounds a lot like Formula 2, right? Here is the kicker:
It is all-electric.
Yep, back in 2014 the FIA created Formula E to develop EV racing and road technology, and to say manufacturers loved the idea would be an understatement. Some manufacturers that have been in and out of Formula E include:
Audi (departed after 2021)
BMW (departed after 2021)
Mercedes (departing after 2022)
Nissan
Porsche
Jaguar
Renault (departed in 2018)
DS Automobiles
Maserati (joining in 2023)
Along with those, there have been several teams that have seen fame before and because of Formula E. Penske, Andretti, Venturi, Mahindra, and NextEV NIO have all seen success in Formula E. Penske and Andretti are mostly known for their factions in NASCAR, Indycar, and IMSA. The series races in large cities, bringing the product directly to the fans. Since the cars are all-electric, they are quiet. Meaning cities are less likely to turn down the series due to volume concerns. This also is a plus for fans, especially those who are younger and/or have hearing issues, since they do not need ear protection to attend races. In fact, many people cite being able to have full conversations at normal speaking volumes during races.
The features of the races (gimmicks)
Now, no racing series is complete without a few “gimmicks,” or features to encourage better/tighter racing. F1 has Drag Reduction System (DRS), NASCAR has the Playoffs and stage racing, and Indycar has Push-To-Pass. Formula E is no exception. Attack Mode is something any driver in the race can activate by running in a designated zone off the racing line somewhere along the track. If successful, the driver is allotted an extra 30kW of power to use, which is roughly 40 horsepower. Fans can identify drivers with Attack Mode by looking at the “halo”, or head protection over the driver’s cockpit. When Attack Mode is active, the halo glows blue. While the act of getting Attack Mode adds time, the gains of power are well worth it for drivers. There is more, however, Fan Boost is something Formula E has had since before the introduction of the Gen 2 cars (more on that later), and it works in a bit of an interesting way. During the week prior and up until 15 minutes after the green flag, fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite drivers. The five drivers with the most votes after that period receive a “significant boost of power,” available anytime during the rest of the race. The boost lasts five seconds, and fans can tell when drivers are using it by using the halo once again. When active, the halo will glow purple.
The cars
Speaking of cars, Formula E has undergone three evolutions of regulations, resulting in three generations. Generation 1 (referred to as Gen 1) lasted from Season 1 (2014) to Season 6 (2018). The cars made about 270 hp, with max horsepower being 335. The batteries could not last all race long (45 minutes), so drivers would need to come in about halfway through to change cars. This all changed with Generation 2 (Gen 2). Generation 2 brought with it the introduction of the Halo, a safety feature in all FIA-sanctioned single-seaters that protects the driver’s head from debris and other cars. In addition, the new car received a major aero redo. They also received major battery upgrades. The cars now made 300 hp normally, and a max of 402 hp. Battery life was also extended, and drivers no longer need to come in for a new car. This does mean that drivers need to watch their energy consumption so they make it to the end of the race, which makes running Attack Mode every lap inefficient. Formula E unveiled a Gen 2 EVO a little over a year ago, but it appears as if plans to run that car were scrapped and development was shifted to Gen 3.
Race format
Because of the shorter battery life spans compared to equivalent gasoline series, Formula E races run around 45 minutes. This is short, compared to many other series, which race for two hours or more. These short races allow for much more competitive racing, as drivers are not given as much time to build a lead or build gaps to drivers behind like in other racing series. This means races are more action packed and exciting from start to finish. Most race weekends happen in one Saturday- practice, qualifying, and race all in the same day-, plus a shakedown on the Friday before. There are a few weekends throughout the season that are double headers, meaning there are two races across two days.
Why I decided to watch Formula E this year
Formula E is a series that has interested me since its conception in 2014, yet I have failed to follow a full season through. While this can be attributed to a lack of trying on my part, I only consider that part of a bigger problem: advertising. Currently, Formula E runs no major advertisements on television, they lack a major merchandising selection, and they have no official videogame. While CBS does carry them on TV, they do not provide an excellent amount of advertising on anything but social media for current and future fans to know when and where races are. Their merchandising efforts have improved, with a decent amount of options on their official store, and recent collaborations with diecast vehicle companies Majorette (based in the United Kingdom) and Hot Wheels. Adult and youth fans can find multiple variations of the Formula E Gen 2 car in major retailers for $1, with more variations sure to be on the way. With this year planning on being the last for the current Gen 2 evolution, this is a great opportunity for me and other fans to get into the series full-time in preparation for 2023. Formula E uploads full race replays on their YouTube for fans to watch, and I know I’ll be utilizing it in the weeks before Season 8 starts to familiarize myself with the series.
I hope to join many others for the first time watching on January 28th, 2022 for the double header first round in Saudi Arabia.
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