London E-Prix round 16 review: world championship excitement and the Gen3 era finale

July 23, 2024 / Committee

Sophie Clare reflects on Formula E’s finale in London, with Pascal Wehrlein crowned the Season 10 champion and Jaguar TCS Racing taking the Team’s and Manufacturer’s trophies.

Following the eventful round 15 race on Saturday, all was still to play for as teams and fans once again descended on the ExCeL Centre in London last Sunday. The atmosphere of excitement and anticipation was palpable, with Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans facing off against TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein for the world championship title.

I once again began my race day in the media centre, watching Free Practice with other journalists and content creators. There was an ominous start to proceedings for title contender Nick Cassidy, who was unable to take to the track for the session because of a brake by wire fault. Nonetheless, in a series of qualifying duels with fractional margins between the drivers, it was Cassidy who prevailed to take pole. Among several tense moments in the duels was the quarter final between Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Günther and DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne, rumoured to become team-mates in 2025. Following his FP3 issues, there was a further scare for Cassidy before his duel against Wehrlein, when he was warned of a possible further brake by wire problem. Despite concerns, Cassidy came through to beat Günther to the pole position with a margin of just 0.169s in the final sector.

Taking the opportunity to spend as much time in the paddock as possible, I visited the pit-lane after qualifying to observe the different teams’ preparations for the race. Watching the progression of the day was particularly enjoyable, for instance the team members in the TAG Heuer Porsche and Jaguar TCS Racing garages appeared acutely focused on the pressures of the championship fight while the teams who were not under championship pressure had a more evident “last day of school” atmosphere. There was also a large media, VIP and celebrity presence around the paddock – including Liam Hemsworth, Mark Webber and Abbi Pulling, who took to the track herself for some laps in the Gen3 car.

I was joined by James Phillips and Lena Ferle from the FormulaNerds team for my exploration of the pit-lane, before they made their way to McLaren for an exclusive feature with Jake Hughes. Later I enjoyed a tour of the Mahindra Garage with James from FormulaNerds, thanks to Damian Meaden the team’s Press Officer. We got to glimpse several behind the scenes areas, including stores of spare front wings, livery stickers and carbon fibre which are used to repair the cars on the fly. If damage is more extensive or requires specialised parts, team members will simply go across to the spares garage at the other side of the paddock who supply parts to all the teams. The process of repairing carbon fibre parts was also explained to us. The team can restore a damaged part back to good-as-new condition by combining resin and carbon fibre mesh, which are then bonded together, left to cure, sanded and polished.

A further example of Formula E’s efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle was shown by the World Champion’s throne, made out of used car parts including front wings which will no longer be suitable for the incoming Gen3 Evo cars next season. This was available in the Fan Village for visitors to take their own photographs, but also was centrepiece for the World Championship celebrations on Sunday.

In order to decide the World Champion, it was time to get racing for the last time in season 10 and the final outing of the Gen3 cars. The round 16 race itself delivered just as much excitement as Saturday’s, with the added finality of three simultaneous championships being decided. An early Safety Car period allowed Pascal Wehrlein to overtake Maximilian Günther, meaning that by lap 6 the top three positions were occupied by the top three contenders. Unfortunately for the Jaguar TCS Racing team, their strategy calls for Attack Mode activation combined with a series of unpredictable interactions on track resulted in the Driver’s title slipping out of their grasp. Nick Cassidy was caught up in a squeeze after being overtaken by Nissan’s Oliver Rowland, with contact between Antonió Felix da Costa taking Cassidy out of contention and his later penalty taking Porsche out of the manufacturer’s trophy. At this stage, both Wehrlein and Evans had yet to take their two mandatory Attack Mode boosts, however it was Oliver Rowland who ultimately secured first place on the podium in the action-packed closing stages of the race. With his second place finish, Wehrlein ultimately prevailed in the Driver’s title and a devastated Evans was left in second place just seven points behind. The Team’s and Manufacturer’s trophies were some consolation for the Jaguar team, not least because they marked the brand’s first title in the highest level of racing since 1991, a notable success for what is currently the marque’s only motorsport team.

With the race and championship results decided, it was time for the podium celebrations. Unfortunately I only caught glimpses, because I had to guess which direction was best to walk and sadly found myself at the wrong end of the paddock to access the ceremony. Even so, it was a happy and celebratory atmosphere with a collective recognition of the great achievements made throughout the season. Returning to the media centre for a press conference with Wehrlein, Rowland, Evans and Jaguar team principle James Barclay was a more sombre affair. Wehrlein shared his excitement and happiness to share this success with his family, while Evans was understandably devastated to come so close yet so far to the championship for the fourth consecutive season.

After one last media pen it was time to pack my bags, say my goodbyes and bid farewell to the thrills and excitement of the Formula E paddock for this season – the biggest and most competitive yet. I am looking forward to watching what comes next for the sport in season 11 and the new Gen3 Evo era.

London E-Prix round 15 review: dramatic racing and trackside insights

July 21, 2024 / Committee

Sophie Clare reviews a dramatic first race at Formula E’s end of season London double-header.

After a fun Friday refamiliarising myself with the London E-Prix paddock, Saturday brought with it the first day of racing action. Most significantly, the day began with seven different drivers in contention for the Championship title and both the Team’s and Manufacturer’s standings still undecided. After checking in to the site I made my way straight to the media centre, taking the time during Free Practice to prepare some notes for the day.

I was pleased to join a friendly group of journalists to take part in a media programme hosted by ABB. Laura Simpson was an informative guide to their work in partnership with Formula E, allowing us to learn more about the electric chargers used by the team cars and safety car. It was particularly insightful to speak with Eric Ernst, Formula E’s VP of Technology. He explained to us some of the technological developments behind Formula E’s operations, including the delivery of a sustainable but reliable broadcast. One of these innovations is an uninterruptible power supply, UPS, which provides power to broadcast equipment in case of disruption to the grid and can be transported with the rest of the track and paddock infrastructure to each race location. The interview also gave us the opportunity to see inside the broadcast centre, a crucial component of the race weekend. This facilitates both the live material watched by fans attending in-person and the television broadcast at home.

Another highlight of the day was a visit to the Porsche garage, who were kind enough to show us around and explain some of the statistics and innovations behind Formula E’s racing setup. Everything is thought of, even down to spaces in the garage wall for the drivers’ helmets to be dried in between sessions! A walk through the pitlane was an enjoyable opportunity to watch fans getting to interact with the drivers – the autograph sessions are always a hugely popular element of the Formula E weekend and it is clear that both teams and fans appreciate the opportunity to share their passion for racing directly.

One of our other stops was to the Girls on Track and ABB area in the Fan Village. We were able to try out working with a collaborative robot, one of the coding and technology challenges presented to visitors who have attended the weekend with the FIA Girls on Track initiative. There are also many other activities to discover in the Fan Village, including an escape room, sim racing and plenty of competitions.

We reached the afternoon and it was time for the lights to go out after a performance from Ella Henderson. I watched the race from the media centre, which was hugely tense and exciting! You can see when it is an eventful race because even the busiest of journalists turn away from their writing and are glued to the broadcast screen!

The top three drivers then shared their thoughts in the press conference and media pen. Pascal Wehrlein, Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans all stand a chance at the title today so will be hoping to replicate their performance again in round 16. I had an insightful chat with Nyck de Vries who was celebrating Mahindra’s best performance of the season, with the team securing 4th and 5th place despite a variety of tense battles and contact elsewhere on track.

I finished off the day in the media centre, writing up some of the material from the day and preparing for the final race of the season on Sunday afternoon. The championship is all still to play for, so it will be great to watch the action first-hand. Make sure to watch on Quest free-to-view TV broadcast in the UK.

London E-Prix preview & Friday recap: all to race for in the championship deciding double header

July 20, 2024 / Committee

After an exciting first day at the ExCeL centre in London, Sophie Clare highlights the competitive action due to unfold over the weekend.

This weekend brings an exciting double-header in London’s ExCeL Centre, as season 10 of Formula E comes to a close. The electric racing series enters the final two races of the season with seven drivers in contention to win the Championship, as well as small margins separating the top of the Teams’ Championship and the inaugural Manufacturers’ Trophy.

So far, Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing lead the standings, followed by Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa of TAG Heuer Porsche. Rounding out the drivers with a chance at Championship victory are Oliver Rowland of Nissan Formula E, Jean-Éric Vergne of DS PENSKE and Andretti’s Jake Dennis, who will hope to catch up the leading drivers in a bid to secure his second consecutive World Championship after victory in 2023.

The Friday schedule provides teams with valuable time on track, both in shakedown and Free Practice 1. After arriving at the media centre, I first joined a panel session to hear from team members at Hankook Motorsport. It was fascinating to hear their insights, particularly with preparations for the new Gen3 Evo and its accompanying tyres well underway. Maximilian Guenther of Maserati MSG Racing was also there to discuss the interaction between driver and tyre development, discussing the unique challenges posed by the London E-Prix track. Stay tuned for a full write-up of their reflections.

After the Hankook panel I enjoyed the chance to catch up with Dom Wilde, who I met at my first race weekend, the Extreme E Dorset X Prix in 2021! It’s great to hear about the work which goes into media scheduling and output, not least because every team, publication and journalist has a different approach and different objectives. Next stop was the paddock, where I was pleased to join Oriane Ganivet and Nathalie Dumas from DS PENSKE for shakedown and FP1. Having joined the team previously during last year’s Berlin E-Prix, it was informative to hear about their work, and to learn more about the processes behind their communications strategy over a race weekend. The teams and drivers have a media day on the Thursday of each race week, so yesterday they were able to prepare a lot of the content they will be releasing over the weekend.

Lizzie Brooks and Gille Vanthoor from Maserati MSG Racing were kind enough to answer some of my questions about this process, explaining how the media day is an ideal opportunity for everyone involved to get creative and jump on current social media trends. As the weekend progresses this also means that the teams can give the drivers space to get in the zone and focus on racing, while still fulfilling requests from various stakeholders whether Formula E themselves or team sponsors.

In between shakedown and FP1, I spent some time people watching in the pit lane, which was busy with guests from the Change. Accelerated. sustainability conference and FIA Girls on Track events taking place on Friday. This season Formula E has expanded its initiative to deliver FIA Girls on Track experiences at each race location, with the series due to surpass 2000 participants over the season-long campaign. Local girls attending the event had the opportunity to explore the full race weekend experience, from the Fan Village to the pitlane. It was lovely to watch their excitement and passion for racing being supported by all the Formula E and team staff who were answering their questions. During my time exploring the paddock I was also grateful to Damian Meaden from Mahindra Formula E, who took the time to answer my questions about working in the motorsport media and communications space. Something which only seems to be re-emphasised each time I am in the paddock is what a supportive environment Formula E fosters. Enthusiasm and curiosity are encouraged, and despite the global scale of the series itself, the paddock is still small enough to be close-knit.

As if to prove the unpredictability of this weekend, FP1 saw mixed results for the Championship contenders. Jean-Éric Vergne topped the timesheets, although title contender Evans was just 0.065 seconds behind. Nick Cassidy and Pascal Wehrlein found themselves in 11th and 13th, with home hero Jake Dennis in 15th. Nothing is guaranteed to stay the same for the rest of the weekend, so FP2 this morning will provide further clues as to the performance of each team in the crucial qualifying stages. When it comes to the races, it is truly all to play for, with a level of competition which stands Formula E out from the crowd. It is also worth a reminder that this weekend’s racing action will be available on free-to-view broadcast channel Quest in the UK, so make sure to tune in.

I ended my Friday with some time in the media centre, collecting my thoughts from a busy schedule and preparing for the first race day. It is sure to be an exhilarating weekend of racing, with the Championship win up for grabs and the potential for upheaval in the standings. Stay tuned on our Instagram, @cammotorsportfanssoc for more updates during the weekend.

Jack Aitken on Formula E: “I’ve wanted to try the car for a long time now.”

May 17, 2023 / Sophie

Sophie Clare interviewed Jack Aitken, former reserve driver for Williams and Renault in Formula 1 and a current rookie for Formula E’s Envision Racing team.

Interviewing Jack Aitken at the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix Media Pen (Copyright: Lena Ferle)

This season Jack Aitken is competing in the European Le Mans Series, the ADAC GT Masters and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. Within this busy racing schedule he was also in Berlin for Formula E’s Season 9 Rookie Test. During a conversation at the Berlin Tempelhof street circuit, Aitken shared his thoughts in the run-up to the testing session.

Sophie: How did you find being out of the driver’s seat this weekend? Are there lessons that the drivers have applied with the changing conditions, track surface, which you can apply tomorrow?

Jack Aitken: Yeah, I mean so I came a couple of days early just so I could see what was going on and try and absorb some information. To be honest, it’s not my favourite activity to be just hanging around at the track, spare, with no driving to do, because I did a lot of that when I was in F1. But yeah, I did pick up some useful things and everyone’s been really really helpful in helping get me up to speed.

S: Do you think that Formula E has a particular appeal to drivers like yourself, who may have been reserve drivers or in feeder series? What do you think has attracted a lot of you to the rookie test?

JA: I think yeah it’s not so much to do with my reserve stuff, it was more just because I’ve been trying a lot of different cars lately, and Formula E is something that was an option, something that I’m interested in. So I’ve wanted to try the car for a long time now, just to see what it’s like because I’ve heard it’s very different. The opportunity came up with Envision, who are obviously doing very well at the moment, so I’m just quite happy to join in for the rookie test and get a taste for it.

The Rookies before taking to the track (Copyright: Simon Galloway)

S: There’s been this amazing fan atmosphere here this weekend, so much overtaking and racing action — what do you think is the unique selling point for Formula E which makes drivers and fans alike so enthusiastic about it?

JA: Well Formula E just has the opportunity to do things from the ground up a little bit more differently, and that goes for things like the qualifying format, also the way that the racing plays out with strategy, and even the way that they set up things like the paddock. I think it’s a refreshing thing to see it done a bit differently. I will hold comment on the car until I’ve driven it, but at least from the simulator it is also something that also has a unique style to it. I think it’s a very interesting challenge, because the car has a lot of power but relatively a lot less grip. You know, usually when you move up from single seater cars, from a lower grade to a higher grade, grip and power go up the same amount relatively. And here we have a very powerful car that relatively has not much grip. So it’s a different style for sure.

Formula E has the opportunity to do things from the ground up a little bit differently.
Jack Aitken

S: I’m sure that energy management will also be an interesting challenge and something new to take on.

JA: Yeah, of course, that’s a big part of it as well. I’ve played with it a little bit in other series with fuel – I mean energy saving whether it’s fuel or electricity is kind of the same concept. So that’s less different, it’s just more intense here [with Formula E].

Both Aitken and the Envision Racing team were pleased with the results of the rookie testing. Damage to the chassis of Sebastien Buemi’s vehicle during the race weekend meant that Aitken and fellow rookie Jonny Edgar had reduced time on track, however the team was focused on gaining insight, collecting data and understanding before the second half of the Formula E season.

From the Envision team’s outstanding performance in the Monaco E-Prix just two weeks after testing in Berlin, their hard graft is continuing to pay off. Nick Cassidy executed a remarkable 10 overtakes during the Monaco E-Prix’s 29 laps, even overtaking on the outside which is almost unthinkable in the Monte Carlo street circuit. Cassidy’s victory in the Principality marked his second consecutive race win following on from Berlin, bringing himself and the team to the top of both drivers’ and constructors’ standings.

With the rookie testing complete for this season, it remains to be seen whether any of those rookies will take the step up into Formula E in the future, but it is certain that the opportunity to spend time on track in the GEN3 was valuable for teams and rookies alike.

Berlin E-Prix Race Report: Formula E Round 8 and Season 9 Rookie Tests

May 17, 2023 / Sophie

Sophie Clare details her experience attending the second Berlin E-Prix race and Formula E’s Season 9 Rookie testing.

The second round of the SABIC 2023 Berlin E-Prix began with a rainy morning, quite the contrast to the sunshine on Saturday. After arriving on-site at Tempelhof, I sheltered from the weather in the media centre to watch qualifying (although we ventured into the rain to watch parts of the Duels!). Qualifying saw an amazing front-row lockout for the ABT CUPRA team, with Robin Frijns and Nico Müller putting in two stand-out performances despite wet and variable track conditions, as drier lines appeared during the course of the session. The ABT CUPRA team’s excellent result in the very first wet session of the GEN3 era was also voted as Formula E fans’ Moment of Berlin and marked the team’s first points of the season.

Robin Frijns on his way to pole in a challenging qualifying session (Copyright: Sam Bloxham)

Qualifying saw an amazing front-row lockout for the ABT CUPRA team, with Robin Frijns and Nico Müller putting in two stand-out performances despite wet and variable track conditions.

After qualifying we enjoyed some time in the pit lane, where the rain certainly wasn’t dampening anyone’s spirits… The Jaguar TCS garage had a fantastic playlist featuring Umbrella by Rihanna! I was pleased to have a tour around the garage from Emily Hogg, who discussed her role as Senior PR and Communications Officer and showed us the behind-the-scenes of the team’s setup. Emily explained about the different responsibilities within a communications role, in particular how these vary between race weekends and the more typical work-week in the office. When behind a desk, her role focuses on developing communications strategies for upcoming race weekends, such as planning engagement with regional markets. During the weekend, the strategies and plans are put into effect with the production of social media content, writing of press releases, hosting VIPs and influencers and often collaborating with local Jaguar teams with a presence in each race location. Each race provides unique opportunities, for example the Monaco E-Prix is a valuable chance to connect with publications in the lifestyle, fashion, travel and luxury consumer spaces; bringing Formula E and its teams and drivers to new audiences beyond the motorsport world.

The Abt Cupra drivers had been hoping for a wet race to continue their excellent performance from quali, but the weather nonetheless started to warm up and dry out. We therefore watched the race start from our trusty trackside vantage point, with a sunny atmosphere that mirrored the previous race. The racing action was not quite as chaotic as on Saturday, although there was still a whopping number of overtakes and tense moments. After a few laps we were quickly rushing through the paddock to watch the majority of the race from the DS PENSKE team garage! Nathalie Dumas, Communications Manager from DS Performance was kind enough to invite us. It was amazing to observe the action from the garage alongside Femme Speed’s Gracie Talia Ross, and Lena Ferle from Formula Nerds. With our headsets tuned into the team radio, I especially enjoyed hearing some of Jean-Eric Vergne’s messages to the team in French: helping ensure the weekend counts towards my Year Abroad language immersion! It was a wonderful insight into how the trackside team members experience each race.

Enjoying the race in the DS PENSKE garage.

Excitingly, Jean-Eric Vergne secured a third place podium and maintained his third place position in the drivers’ championship – reducing his gap to the leader Pascal Wehrlein. Stoffel Vandoorne also scored valuable points for the DS PENSKE team, which maintained its fourth place in the teams’ championship. As the cars returned to the pit lane and the podium finishers parked in the Allianz Fan Village, we followed the DS PENSKE team members across the track and enjoyed the celebratory atmosphere of the podium! It truly was an exhilarating experience and a highlight from another historic Formula E weekend. Following the podium celebrations, it was once again time for the press conference and media pens. As well as familiar faces from the Formula E grid, there was also the opportunity for the media to speak with drivers taking part in the Season 9 Rookie test the following day. I had the chance to talk with Jack Aitken about the Rookie test and his thoughts on Formula E – read more here!

Crossing the track with the DS PENSKE team ready for the podium celebrations.

The rookie test quickly rolled around on Monday which had a very different, peaceful atmosphere once the site was empty of spectators. Staff were starting to unpack the track, and the pit lane and paddock was a lot quieter. This was a great opportunity to explore the grid away from the hectic atmosphere of the main race weekend, especially because events like Rookie testing place an emphasis on practice, experience and data collection rather than competition. I enjoyed meeting Viktoria Wohlrapp, who is Motorsport Communications Spokesperson for Porsche and gave me a tour of their team garage. It was interesting to observe as Yifei Yi prepared for the practice session, particularly watching all the small details that go into getting the car and driver out on track.

The rookie test quickly rolled around on Monday which had a very different, peaceful atmosphere…

Viktoria also took me over to the Avalanche Andretti garage, where it was lovely to meet their Formula E and Extreme E Communications Manager Lewis Mitchell. I watched the rest of the testing session from the Andretti garage and it was nice to hear the Communications staff – albeit working for competing teams – discussing their plans for the upcoming Monaco E-Prix and working together towards shared goals. This is something which consistently strikes me about the Formula E paddock is the wonderful feeling of community. Even though the teams are competing for the Championship, there is a great sense of camaraderie and collaboration across all aspects of the sport; from media to engineers, drivers to race officials. Everyone involved dedicates hard graft to produce high quality sport and entertainment, as evidenced by the cumulative growth of fan engagement and a whopping 20% year-on-year increase to a cumulative audience of 381 million during last year’s Season 8. Overall, Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich scored the fastest lap time of the rookie test, setting a fastest time just two tenths of a second off the best time set in practice by Maximilian Guenther during the main race weekend – in the same Maserati MSG Racing car.

Something which consistently strikes me about the Formula E paddock is the wonderful feeling of community.

To conclude the race weekend it was time for a final wander through the pit lane with Abi Jackson and Soph Upton, some of a lovely and talented group of motorsport influencers who I met during the race weekend as well as Ashley Eleanor, Monique Adriana and Antonia Rankin. It was great to learn more about working as an influencer and how each of them are achieving exciting milestones: they were also taking part in the launch of Formula E’s new simulator racing series Accelerate Amped, which will continue at the oncoming E-Prix rounds in Rome and London.

Ultimately, being back in the Formula E paddock was a highlight of my time here in Berlin. It was a wonderful opportunity to get up close to the racing action, which I won’t forget any time soon.

Race Report: Formula E Round 7 and Envision Racing’s Race Against Climate Change Event

April 29, 2023 / Sophie

Sophie Clare reports on her highlights from an action-packed race day in Berlin.

To kick off the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix race weekend, I was pleased to be invited to Envision Racing’s Race Against Climate Change event. This was hosted at a rooftop venue in City West, which allowed us to enjoy some unexpected Berlin sunshine. We first heard from Claire Williams, who called in over video conference to share her experiences growing up in the Williams motor racing dynasty as well as discussing her own career path: “I still pinch myself today that I had the opportunity to run an F1 team.” She also highlighted the value of Formula E as a platform for change, which “inspires because of its sustainability credentials.”

Girls on Track panel hosted by Lissie Mackintosh, with Sophia Flörsch, Alice Powell and Julia Pallé

This importance of sustainability was echoed by the other panellists, including Alice Powell (currently Development and Simulator Driver for Envision Racing), Sophia Flörsch (Formula 3 driver) and Julia Pallé (Formula E’s Sustainability Director). Julia Pallé revealed insights into the sustainability strategy which has ensured Formula E’s net zero carbon footprint since its inception. In particular, she explained the importance of creating a “culture for sustainability” and embedding environmentally friendly practices in every aspect of the series, from manufacture of the GEN3 car to the local projects the series supports at its race locations. Alice Powell echoed the importance of sustainability – and women’s inclusion – highlighting that “it’s not just about the driving… it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, you can go and participate.”

Sophia Flörsch has been racing since she was 4 years old, and during her 18 years since starting with karting, she has noticed that things are changing. At a grassroots level, she explained, it is just as important that parents can see motorsport as an option for their daughters as it is for young girls to see role models in the sport.

“I still pinch myself today that I had the opportunity to run an F1 team.”
Claire Williams

Following on from this, the New Scientist’s Alexandra Thompson hosted a panel discussing the intersection of technical roles, sustainability and gender equality. Marija Lazic shared about her role as a sustainability officer in a male-dominated sector. Eva-Maria Hirschieper discussed her role as Public Policy Director for Sustainability at Meta, and both women detailed the importance of normalising female participation in STEM roles. As Claire Williams had mentioned, once she reached a certain level of seniority in motorsports, people suddenly appeared surprised to see her there. It made her wonder why the presence of high-profile female leaders is “[considered by some as] such a different and strange thing.” The biggest learning I found from these panel sessions was the importance of community and purpose-driven, grassroots work to improve access to STEM – and motorsport – for all. Indeed, as Hirschieper stated, “with smaller changes you can make scalable effects.”

After a thought-provoking and fascinating selection of panels during Friday’s event, Saturday brought on a completely different learning experience, with my first full day in the Formula E Media Centre. The race weekend began with a beautiful sunny day, which greatly contrasted my previous Formula E experience at last year’s London E-Prix when most time was spent inside the ExCeL centre!

After familiarising myself with the paddock and finding a desk in the media centre with Gracie Talia Ross from Femmespeed, we watched the second Free Practice session and the Qualifying duels from the pit lane entry. This was an excellent vantage point to admire the new GEN3 design up-close. After this, I enjoyed exploring the paddock and made the most of some time in the pit-lane. There was a very lively atmosphere with many fans coming over for autograph sessions with the drivers and other groups being taken on tours around the paddock. It was lovely to talk with Alexa Rendell, who is a digital presenter and producer who you might recognise from her work with Formula E and Extreme E. Soon she was off again darting in and out of the team garages, finding opportunities for content capture and seeking authentic moments from the race weekend to communicate with fans watching from home.

Later in the afternoon I also enjoyed catching up with Izy Rekiel, a friendly face in many paddocks including Extreme E, Formula E and F1. Not only the resident DJ of Formula E’s BOSS|Emotion Club, Izy is also an impact correspondent, presenter and content creator across a breadth of racing series and other events. It is always interesting to learn about the experiences Izy has gained through her career: particularly the people she meets and stories she gets to share.

In the pit-lane with Alexa Rendell and Gracie Talia Ross

Endeavouring to make the most of the sunshine, I then enjoyed watching the race from a great trackside vantage point between turns 4 and 5. With a media pass, you don’t have access to watch the race from the grandstands (which are probably the most comprehensive viewing location – no matter where your grandstand is, you can listen to and watch the curated commentary and live video). Happily, there was a screen opposite us serving the BOSS|Emotion Club VIP lounge and commentary being broadcast behind us, so we could follow the action elsewhere while also watching the cars take the corner right around our position. It is also possible to watch the race directly from the Allianz Fan Village, which has very affordable tickets and contributes to making Formula E more accessible (particularly for new fans or first-time attendees).

Round 7’s race saw a record breaking number of lead changes, with the front-runners all conscious of draining extra energy if they were in first position for too long. The importance of being in the frontrunner’s slipstream combined with the close competition typical of Formula E resulted in a series of dramatic events and two periods under the safety car. The race saw 190 overtakes with a record 20 at-the-line lead changes and eight different race leaders. During lap 20 Dan Ticktum – unsighted – squeezed Stoffel Vandoorne into the wall right opposite our vantage point. Fortunately both were okay, although both drivers had enough damage to result in a DNF. Hearing the crunching of carbon fibre and watching contact between cars as it happened was incredibly surreal, as was observing the marshalls as they cleaned up the track and swept away wayward carbon fibre during the safety car.

Enjoying the racing action from our trackside vantage point

After a whirlwind race, which always seems to go by even quicker when you’re watching live, the podium saw a historic 1-2 result for Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans and Sam Bird. Maximilian Günther brought home his debut Formula E podium, having raced up the inside past Sébastien Buemi to take 3rd position on the final turn. Not only did he secure the first podium position for Maserati in Formula E, but he became the first driver in Maserati colours to make a single-seater podium since the iconic Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957.

The race saw 190 overtakes with a record 20 at-the-line lead changes and eight different race leaders.

While the whole paddock was processing the incredible race (and counting up the record-breaking number of overtakes!) we headed back to the Media Centre where the post-race press conference took place. Once the champagne has been sprayed this gives the podium finishers a chance to share their thoughts on the race. Shortly after is the media pen, where most of the drivers will speak with the media in a merry-go-round situation, with journalists making their way around and drivers accompanied by an array of PR and communications staff. If you end up watching an interview filmed in the media pen, you may notice other drivers or journalists in the background. There is a great hustle and bustle as everyone seeks out the on-demand drivers, especially those who had a major role in the day’s racing action!

With the last official proceedings of the day concluded, all that remained was another exploration through the Allianz Fan Village before heading home and getting ready for more exhilarating racing on Sunday!

Checking in with Formula E Season 9 – 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix Race Preview

April 21, 2023 / Sophie

Sophie Clare looks forward to exciting electric action, as the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix marks the midpoint of Formula E’s 9th season.

As we near the halfway point of ABB FIA Formula E’s 9th Season, it is all to race for as the series returns to Berlin. So far this year, 11 teams have raced across the world from Mexico City to Diriyah, Hyderabad to Cape Town. Following the most recent action in Sãu Paulo, the current standings see TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein hoping to continue his Championship-leading performance at his (and his team’s) home race.

Mitch Evans, Nick Cassidy and Sam Bird on the podium in Sãu Paulo (Copyright: Simon Galloway)

Jake Dennis, Nick Cassidy and Jean-Éric Vergne are currently placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively, with just 2 points between them – all will be aiming for strong performances here to consolidate their positions in the Championship lineup. At the other end of the pack, Robin Frijns, Nico Müller and Maximilian Günther will be hoping to secure their first points of the season at the 10-turn Tempelhof track. Considering no one driver has scored points in every race this season, there is certain to be exciting, unpredictable and closely-contested racing in store.

Perhaps the most significant change for Formula E this year was the introduction of the GEN3 car, which has undoubtedly contributed towards the tightly fought races in Season 9. The three race weekends preceding this round also took place in brand new locations for the series, which provided tactical challenges for the teams when deciding their strategic approach with the new vehicles.

From the launch of the GEN3 last year (Copyright: Formula E Media Centre)

In this weekend’s familiar setting, however, teams and drivers will be able to draw on their previous experiences to shape their strategy, which could give the winning edge. In Berlin, the race site’s former use as an airport has several implications for the teams. The track surface consists of concrete slabs which cause more wear and tear than a typical street circuit. This will call for strategy choices which can help drivers optimise tyre management and energy conservation during the race. Alice Powell, Simulator and Development Driver for Envision Racing, explained some of the important split-second decisions which drivers are responsible for. These can make or break a driver’s race performance, particularly when it comes to managing energy levels. Alice described how there are so many buttons and switches that “the manual book for the steering wheel is something else!”

With a top speed of 200mph, the GEN3 has a smaller chassis which has been optimised for close-fought street racing. The regenerative capacity of the previous GEN2 car has been doubled, meaning that more than 40% of the energy used in-race is regenerated from braking. Energy management (including when to employ the extra 50kW of energy gained from Attack Mode) is a fundamental part of race strategy and the flick of a switch has changed the fortunes of many on track. It remains to be seen how the collaboration of strategists, engineers, and drivers will unfold this weekend, but they will be sure to draw on data collected in the racing simulator by drivers like Alice to continuously fine-tune their performance.

The manual for the steering wheel is something else!
Alice Powell

One of the most interesting aspects of the Berlin race is its unique location at the former Tempelhof Airport, which in particular played a pivotal role during the Berlin Airlift from 1948-49. Supply aircraft transferred much-needed resources to the West of the city during a blockade by the Soviet Union, providing necessities to two million citizens in a monumental operation. All flight operations were discontinued in 2008, with the site giving way to the Tempelhof Park; not only the biggest in Berlin, but one of the largest inner city open spaces in the world. This unique location also allows for a racetrack which is wider than a typical Formula E street circuit. The extra overtaking opportunities will be sure to provide many exciting wheel-to-wheel battles.

Signage from last year’s Berlin E-Prix (Copyright: Sam Bloxham)

The once abandoned hangars of the Tempelhof airport will also feature the Allianz Fan Village, the launch of CUPRA’s new Tavascan electric SUV, a Formula Student showcase and a wealth of fan engagement activities. Building upon years of both advocacy and implementation when it comes to sustainability, the E-Prix will be powered using 100% renewable energy, showcasing EcoCups in the Fan Village and celebrating Earth Day 2023 throughout the weekend. Plus, to top it all off, Monday will see a host of talented drivers (who haven’t yet participated in a Formula E race weekend) who will be taking to the track for Rookie tests in the GEN3.

No one driver has scored points in every race this season, there is certain to be exciting, unpredictable and closely-contested racing in store.

Formula E has visited Berlin more times than any other city; with the races here having seen 10 pole-sitters and 13 race winners over 16 E-Prix events. Given the close competition over Series 9 of Formula E thus far, it is clear that there is much to be excited for as the teams, drivers and fans prepare for this weekend.

Stay tuned for Sophie’s coverage of the race weekend on our blog and social media.

From driving and surviving to driving and thriving: the influence of modern media on the world of Formula 1

March 19, 2023 / F1 Fans Soc

Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons via creative commons license

Formula 1 has come a long way since its inception in 1950, but the ultimate goal of the sport has stayed the same: going from A to B as fast as possible. But the way in which we consume content from the sport has completely changed; the very first Grand Prix, held at Silverstone, wasn’t even televised, so certainly wasn’t featured in any Instagram posts or Netflix documentaries.

Just like everything else in the 21^st century, Formula 1 is dominated by intense media coverage, whether it be through commentary, interviews, social media, or blogs run by student societies. This coverage has not only influenced how we watch the sport, but also influenced its overall success.

Liberty Media

While the sport has always been a spectacle, the focus within management over recent years, more than ever, has been on creating an entertaining product, with the aim of drawing in viewers. Since the takeover in management by Liberty Media in 2016, we’ve seen multiple changes in race and car regulations, all with the aim of bringing the field closer together in order to create more exciting races with more passes, more penalties, and more crashes. If you found yourself on Twitter following the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, then you’ll know that any situation that creates controversy or drama is guaranteed to get more people talking about Formula 1 online, and increase the hype surrounding the sport.

Like if you will never count verstappen as a world champion
— Ben Clarke (@Ben_clarkeyyy) December 14, 2021

Fireworks at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2015 (Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons via creative commons license)

Drive to Survive

The primary way that drama has been capitalised on recently, is, of course, Drive to Survive. In case you’ve been living under a rock, DTS is the Netflix-run documentary-style series which covers all the major event in each season of Formula 1, starting with 2018. The main reason the show has been such a success is that it provides a real insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of the sport, giving you a flavour of the politics of the paddock, and how much work and strategy goes into each and every race. A key component of this is getting to know all of the major players within the world of Formula 1, including both the drivers and the team principals. Making the sport more personable this way gives the viewers a stronger emotional investment in it and its high stakes, helping retain viewers and make it more successful overall.

A new audience

Arguably the most significant impact that DTS has had is how it’s brought Formula 1 to a wider audience. Traditionally the sport has attracted a slightly older viewership, with the technical jargon littered throughout commentaries making it feel confusing and incomprehensible to new, younger viewers. Through the production of DTS, Liberty Media has not only made Formula 1 more appealing through adding a personable quality, but also provided a platform through which new fans can learn about the sport (from Will Buxton, of course), as well as increased their exposure to the sport in the first place.

Moreover, the traditional Eurocentricity of Formula 1 has been turned on its head, with viewership in the US skyrocketing since DTS’ inception. Brandon Snow, the managing director of commercial at Formula 1, said the following at the DTS premiere last month: “The U.S. market has become our No. 1 market for social engagement across all of our platforms, (and for) all of our teams and all of our drivers,” describing the US as an engine for success “across the business”. The result of this success has been the introduction of new US circuits being added to the calendar, the most significant of which is the Las Vegas street circuit, which will make its debut this season on 18^th November. It will be joining the two pre-existing US circuits in Austin and Miami, the latter of which was introduced to the calendar in 2022, after the rapid increase in popularity of the sport in the US, thanks to the success of DTS.

The circuit for the Las Vegas Grand Prix will see the drivers racing right down the infamous Las Vegas Strip (Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons via creative commons license)

New partnerships

With the recent revival of the sport being such a success, in no small part due to the modernisation of media coverage, different companies will be wanting to get involved in the Formula 1 arena in any way they can. One example of this is the announcement of a new partnership between Red Bull Racing and Ford, starting in 2026. Ford was a key manufacturer of Formula 1 engines for approximately 40 years, starting in 1963, and during this time they secured 176 victories, 13 drivers’ titles and 10 constructors’ world championships, which makes it one of the most successful engine manufacturers in the history of the sport. Their return marks another step in the journey of Formula 1 to the success and glory of old, and to a new, thrilling age of modern racing.

In 2023, embracing the influence that modern media has on the way we consume entertainment is vital for the success of any sport. Few have managed to run with the opportunities that this provides quite as well as Formula 1 has, and its future has never looked so bright.

F1 2026: FIA announces new engine regulations

September 8, 2022 / F1 Fans Soc

Alex Pennington

The FIA recently approved the long-awaited engine regulations for 2026, the biggest overhaul since the 2014 introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrids. Following the finalisation of the regulations, Audi has confirmed its entry into the sport in 2026 as an engine manufacturer, with its buyout of Sauber as well as Porsche’s Red Bull partnership expected to follow shortly. With such big changes coming for the whole of F1, let’s take a look at what the regulations actually involve.

Unfortunately, the side effect of all this will be a familiar one in F1’s recent history, and that is increased weight

The big talking point of the new regulations, and F1’s future more generally, is sustainability. The new engines will run on 100% sustainable fuel made from municipal waste and have the same power output as the current generation, at around 1000 horsepower. Another major difference will be the increased reliance on electrical power, with the batteries now providing up to 50% of total power output. This is all in the name of a more sustainable sport with better applications for road cars, which are shifting ever more towards electrical power. However, this will not impact the racing we know and love.

The other change, which is even more significant on the technical side, is the removal of the complicated and expensive MGU-H. The MGU-H is an engine component which uses exhaust gasses to spin a turbine and create energy. This energy is then stored and used to artificially spin up the turbocharger’s air compressor under acceleration. This eliminates turbo lag (the period between acceleration starting, and the turbocharger starting to work to create additional power) and increases the efficiency of the engine. It is, however, a very complex and expensive part to develop, so much so that it has little real-world application and has been a major barrier to new engine manufacturers entering the sport. Its removal was essentially a necessity for Porsche and Audi to agree to enter the sport.

A Mercedes MGU-H (left) attached to the turbo housing and turbine (right)

Other changes to the regulations go along with the current drive to reduce costs and improve close racing. There will be a cost cap on engine development (separate to the overall cost cap) of $95m per year from 2023-25 and some parts of the engines, including the engine block and crankshaft, will have development on them tightly restricted. This should help to ensure that performance is relatively similar between engine manufacturers, and that the new manufacturers can enter and be competitive right from the outset.

Unfortunately, the side effect of all this will be a familiar one in F1’s recent history, and that is increased weight. This year’s cars are already 50kg heavier than the previous generation, and the new engines will have much larger battery packs and a move away from expensive, exotic (and lightweight) construction materials. The loss of the MGU-H, on the other hand, will only be worth around 4-5kg.

All of this means that the new engine regs will essentially bring three things: more sustainability; more manufacturers; and more weight. Some drivers and teams have already voiced concern about the weight issue (not to mention the extra money allocated to new manufacturers for development), but on the whole a more sustainable and competitive Formula 1 can only ever be a positive thing. As fans we will just have to accept that the quickest cars in the sport’s history are, at least for now, behind us. If the new engines create close, exciting racing, that seems to be a sacrifice worth making.

A current-gen engine with energy store/batteries

Formula E: An Electrifying Race Weekend in London’s ExCeL centre

August 16, 2022 / Sophie

Sophie Clare reviews her first Formula E race experience, reflects on the racing format and details some of her favourite memories from a busy race day.

It was such a fun (and fairly affordable) way to see the skill of drivers and support a more sustainable mode of racing.

On Saturday 30th July I was excited to attend the Sabic London E-Prix, my first Formula E race weekend. After an early start and a succession of trains and tubes, Aakash, Marina, and I arrived to the distinctive noise of electric engines, enjoying a glimpse of free practice from the DLR station.

Our train had slowly but steadily filled with easily recognisable fans, showing support for their teams with baseball caps and polo shirts. Entering the Allianz E-Village gave an overview of the activities on offer, revealing the true scale of the race site. The unique track winds around – and through – the ExCeL convention centre and adjacent to the Royal Victoria Dock. The indoor/outdoor layout poses the challenge of differing light levels and track conditions, it is fascinating to watch during the race and see the drivers negotiating in and out of the indoor track, trying to use the transition to their advantage.

After exploring the site, Marina and Aakash checked out the grandstand and track while I paid a visit to the Media Centre. This provides working space for the array of team representatives, journalists, photographers, and Formula E officials who bring the racing action to fans via. print and online media. It was a quiet and focused space, definitely a contrast to the crowds of fans who were attending the race and enjoying the activities on offer in the E-Village. It’s also where the pre and post-race press conferences and media pens take place, so I enjoyed getting a glimpse behind-the-scenes. I also took the opportunity to explore the paddock, where I had the chance to chat with Sophie Liger, PR manager for the DS TECHEETAH team. It was great to see inside the garage as the team, drivers (and indeed the cars!) were getting prepared for qualifying. Later in the day we also saw Izy Rekiel, who Aakash and I first met at the Extreme E Jurassic X Prix last year. Izy kindly caught up with us in between providing a musical backdrop to the race weekend as DJ in the BOSS|EMOTION Club.

Qualifying consists of a group stage followed by a series of Duels, where pairs of drivers go head-to-head to decide the qualifying order. We found that this format – along with the accessible race length of 45 minutes + 1 lap – is a crucial part of Formula E’s growing appeal, particularly to fans who might not have engaged with motorsport before. For new viewers at home or first-time race attendees, Formula E’s almost bite-sized format provides fast-paced, punchy racing action interspersed with a range of activities, including music performances by Nina Nesbitt and Jax Jones. Additionally, the race still provides the tension and excitement of strategy calls, overtaking and battles for position, just concentrated into a shorter race time. With thousands of fans cheering along in the grandstands, waving flags to support their favourite teams, it was a truly unforgettable atmosphere.

Watching the race itself – round 13 of this year’s championship – was an incredible experience. Almost every lap when the cars whirred down the straight and through turns 1 and 2, we watched a slightly different succession of cars passing by our grandstand. Lights on the halo of each car indicated whether the driver had initiated Attack Mode, a sort of DRS equivalent for the Formula E cars. This gives a 6-minute power boost and can be activated twice during the race, with each team and driver working to build a strategy which could best employ the power boost to their advantage. As the race continued, it was particularly exciting to watch the battle for third place between Nick de Vries and Nick Cassidy, a tight battle which saw de Vries cross the line first but Cassidy taking third position, with de Vries taking a five second penalty post-race. Perhaps most noteworthy was Jake Dennis’ dominant run to a podium position for the Avalanche Andretti team.

It was close and hard fought, and I really enjoyed the fact that the commentary was broadcast into the crowd.

I asked some of the CUMFS members who attended the race about their experience and their responses were unanimously positive. It was the first live motorsport event that most of them had attended, with the range of fan entertainment and sustainable racing being big factors behind their enjoyment. Izzy thought that “it was such a fun (and fairly affordable) way to see the skill of drivers and support a more sustainable mode of racing.” Several members particularly enjoyed seeing British driver Jake Dennis British top the podium. Aakash also appreciated the unique track layout, in particular how it “took great advantage of the Formula E cars.” He reflected my own thoughts on the racing: “it was close and hard fought, and I really enjoyed the fact that the commentary was broadcast into the crowd.”

Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of a Formula E race weekend, both in the grandstands and behind-the-scenes. It was great for so many of our members to attend an in-person motorsport event, many of us for the first time!

Has the London E-Prix piqued your interest in the sport? We’ll be incorporating further coverage of Formula E into our blog and social media, so stay tuned for more articles in the future. If you’re interested in writing for the blog, please get in touch with Libby, our Social Media officer.

CU Motorsports Fans Society

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