Formula E, officially the FIA Formula E Championship, is a top-level class of open-wheeled single-seater motor racing that uses purely electrical cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Its first season was the 2014–15 season. The grid consists of eighteen drivers from nine teams driving cars were are homologated for the first season, with teams allowed to start developing their own car parts from 2015–16 onwards.
Former Renault driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. won the first series, and former Toro Rosso driver Sébastien Buemi took the title is the second series. Buemi would also fight for the title in the third edition of Formula E, although he was ultimately beaten by another ex-F1 racer in Lucas di Grassi.
Links to F1[]
The main link between Formula E and F1, apart from the FIA (which regulates both) is the large number of personnel which have gone from F1 to Formula E. These ties are set to get stronger too, as the World Motor Sport Council's most recent meeting in Mexico City in July 2015 announced that the Formula E Champion would automatically qualify for a Super Licence.
F1 drivers[]
Note: Only drivers who have competed in a round of the Formula One World Championship are listed here.
- Bold indicates the driver is an FIA Formula E Champion.
Manufacturers[]
Currently, Renault, engine suppliers for Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso in the 2017 Formula One season, are a partner in the Formula E Championship, and back one of the teams, Renault e.Dams. From 2015/16, Renault also built powertrains for Formula E, with the success potentially deciding whether they continue in Formula One or not. Williams and McLaren also currently work with Spark, the manufacturer of the basic Formula E car, providing components such as the battery and powertrain respectively.
The 2016/17 season would see more F1 links formed, as ex-F1 engine supplier BMW partnered with the Andretti Formula E team with the aim of running a factory effort by the 2018/19 season. They would be joining ex-F1 constructor Jaguar Racing, a move which brought Jaguar back to international motorsport for the first time since they sold the original effort to Red Bull. The British marque would make their bow at the start of the third season of FE, having formed a partnership with Williams as they also increased their involvement in the series.
From 2017/18, more current and former F1 manufacturers announced their intentions to join the series, with Mercedes and Porsche joining the entry list from 2019/20 onwards.
Notes[]