“We want to do things differently to any other motorsport” is a phrase – coined by Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo earlier this week – that certainly wouldn’t be out of place as the all-electric championship’s motto.
Innovative systems to spice up the racing in Formula E are nothing new and during its 10-year tenure the championship has implemented several, including Fan Boost – whereby fans could vote for their favourite drivers and give them a one-time additional shot of power – or Attack Mode.
The latter still remains and has become an integral part of races, particularly during the current 2024-25 season as the 350kW mode also now includes all-wheel-drive courtesy of the new Gen3 Evo machines and, at least in the opening two races in Sao Paulo and Mexico City, helped to produce two thrilling races.
The next race on 14 February in Jeddah, on a truncated version of the full grand prix layout used by Formula 1, will feature the next newest concept – Pit Boost.
Each driver will be required to make a mandatory stop during the race between a set number of laps, and once in the pits a plug-in charger will be attached to the car. The technology means all cars will receive a 10% battery recharge at 600kW that will take approximately 30 seconds.
“I think it's going to be fantastic because it's going to create a little bit of jeopardy into the race and there are teams that are going to be using that energy in different ways, in different moments,” says Longo.
“Also worth mentioning we are again at the forefront of the technology, this technology is the first time that it is going to be showcased and is something that is unique and we are very proud of.”
Pitstops in motorsport are certainly nothing new and even just focusing solely on the discipline of single-seaters, they have included everything from tyre changes and refuelling to driver/car swaps. But in an age where a modern Formula 1 pitstop takes less than two seconds, the thought of a car being stationary for 30 seconds is hardly an appealing one.
Longo stresses that TV broadcasts will not show the full entirety of these stops, as other cars will remain on track with teams only able to service one vehicle at a time, but this raises another potential problem – how to convey what is happening?
"There has been some cars that couldn't charge, for example, but that is all related to basically the way the mechanic put the charger into the car, and that is precisely what we wanted as well, to bring some human error" Alberto Longo
For a period of time there will be two packs of cars circulating at different points on the track, with some drivers possibly even waiting until much later to make the mandatory stop to gain a strategic element and cars maybe even falling a lap down on certain circuits.
Formula E is already known as one of, if not the, most unpredictable forms of motorsport in the world and certainly the two races this season have shown that with contestant changes of position.
For fans trying to keep tabs of things at home and the circuit, the introduction of Pit Boost may be a step too far even with the help of graphics and explanations from pundits as instead of adding to the spectacle, it could well diminish it.
The concept was originally touted for the beginning of the Gen3 era back in 2022, but reliability and safety concerns meant it has taken until now for the FIA and Formula E organisers to be satisfied enough for it to be used during competition.
During that period, it has been extensively tested, including during the pre-season simulation race at Jarama back in November, as well as in practice sessions in Brazil and Mexico.
Certainly any technical failures would prove disastrous, especially if they were to have a significant bearing on the outcome of the championships come the season-finale in London.
“We have a full protocol in case any single device fails, but in reality, in the last two race [events] we have had plenty of test on it, there hasn't been a single failure of the device,” adds Longo.
“There has been some cars that couldn't charge, for example, but that is all related to basically the way the mechanic put the charger into the car, and that is precisely what we wanted as well, to bring some human error.”
While there are several sporting aspects that have been considered both by Formula E and the FIA ahead of its introduction, something which also can’t be overlooked is the wider impact such a piece of technology will have. It’s no secret that a stumbling block for current electric cars that are used day-to-day by regular consumers is the time it takes to recharge, not helped by the limited and severely lacking infrastructure currently available on the roads.
While thousands of new public charging stations are installed every year, not to mention those privately owned in homes, there is a distinct shortage of them leading to long queues at service stations as those in need of a boost are forced to wait.
It’s not unreasonable to assume that in five years the same technology which will now feature on the race tracks of the world will be available for road-going drivers, slashing the time it takes them to recharge.
Whether it makes the spectacle better or not, Pit Boost is here to stay this season where it will be used at double-header events
Given big manufacturers such as Jaguar, Nissan and Porsche have committed to Formula E for the long-term, seeing such a technology prove successful can only be a win-win.
Whether it makes the spectacle better or not, Pit Boost is here to stay this season where it will be used at double-header events, which after Saudi Arabia include Monaco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin and London to create a different race strategy from the previous day.
As ever, whether Pit Boost ultimately proves to be a good or bad thing Formula E has proven it’s willing to push the boundaries of innovation once again.
