5 reasons next season will be the best Formula E season yet
New cars, new venues, and new drivers are all in the pipeline for season five.
As motorsports go, Formula E is still very young. It would be considered a baby in the racing world. Now coming towards the completion of its fourth season, the sport has progressed and gained the reputation of fans and car-makers alike. World famous manufacturers such as Renault, Audi, DS, BMW, Jaguar and Mahindra already play a substantial role in the series’ success, but will soon be joined by the likes of Mercedes, Nissan, and Porsche in the next two seasons. In addition to this, a radical new Gen2 car design as well as the promise of a new ePrix show, Formula E is developing far quicker than many series’ of such a young age. So where is Formula E heading next, and why will Season five of Formula E be the best season to date?
New Cars
Season five of Formula E will see a brand new design of a car that is both striking and in my opinion, beautiful. A perfectly integrated halo that marries with the overall design instead of a rushed afterthought, covered wheel arches and lack of rear wing all add to the cars’ overall appearance and appeal. As well as this, the car will see a power hike to 250KW maximum power as well as a longer range which will put the ‘Formula E cars are too slow’ pundits to bed. A good move.
No Car Change
A contentious topic, in my opinion, the omission of a mid-race car swap for Season five thanks to the increased range of the new cars will undoubtedly change the dynamic of the race. At first, a lot of people saw the change as a gimmick, but since the removal of the minimum pit stop time, the mid-race car swap has become a feature of the race and enjoyable to watch. It will be sad to see it go but realise it also represents the development of alternative technology at this time, so I doubt these feelings will last for long!
New Locations
More power equals the need for longer and larger circuits. A new ePrix in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as well as the Sao Paulo event that was supposed to go ahead this season show the sport is healthy. As well, Formula E returns to Monaco for the third time, but makes a welcome upgrade to the full Grand Prix circuit, surely a draw for those in limbo about the verification of the sport. While the calendar is still small in comparison to other motorsports, new events are always welcome, and with the possibility of a Birmingham ePrix as well, Formula E has a lot to boast.
New Manufacturers
Season five will welcome two new manufacturers. HWA AG, the group responsible for Mercedes DTM cars, will use Venturi powertrains as preparation for the season six Mercedes entry. As well, Nissan will take over the Renault team, an unusual move considering the strength of Renault throughout the first few seasons of Formula E. I can see these two manufacturers at the sharp end from the get-go, and once more shows the strengths of Formula E over other series’.
New Drivers
While only a few drivers have confirmed a drive for Season 5, the prospect of a seat in a Gen2 car has certainly incentivised drivers across the world. Felipe Massa makes the jump from Formula 1 after his retirement at the end of 2017, joining Venturi. Nico Rosberg was the first driver to publicly pilot the Gen2 car at the most recent event in Berlin, and I think we can expect more drivers from top-level series’ to show interest before the lineups are final.
What are you looking forward to most in Season 5? Let us know in the comments.
