The 2021-22 FIA Formula E motorsport season begins this weekend, with a special double-header event.
A special circuit around the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, will play host to the first two rounds of the year.
Now into an eighth season, there have been plenty of driver changes and calendar updates.
If you are new to Formula E, or need to catch up on the latest developments, read on to get yourself fully charged.
OK, what exactly is Formula E?
Put simply, it is the only FIA-sanctioned single-seater electric motorsport championship. Imagine Formula One-style racing cars, but powered by batteries, and you are on the right lines.
The championship began as a way to promote the significant development of electric vehicle technology, and prove that battery power does not have to be boring.
However, the championship has become about more than just the sheer novelty of electric racing.
Formula E is now into its eighth season, and has grown in popularity. This season sees a total of 11 teams competing, with several major car manufacturers involved.
What cars do they use in Formula E?
All teams use the same Spark SRT05e chassis, with batteries supplied by McLaren Advanced Technology. Hitting 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, with a potential 174mph top speed, means these are serious racing cars.
Teams are able to supply and develop their own electric powertrains, but the rules are kept tight to ensure the racing is close. Maximum power output for each car totals 250kW (335hp), reduced to 220kW (295hp) in race mode.
The cars do feature aerodynamic wings and spoilers, but these are nowhere near as intricate as thoe aero seen in Formula One. Again, this helps cars race in close proximity to each other, encouraging as much overtaking as possible.
Formula E had planned to introduce a modified car for the 2020-21 season. However, coronavirus saw the GEN2 Evo idea shelved, with an all-new GEN3 car planned for the 2022-23 season instead.
Which car manufacturers are involved in Formula E?
With electric cars becoming more prevalent on the road, manufacturers have seized on Formula E as an opportunity to demonstrate to the world what they can do.
This season sees five familiar car manufacturers involved. Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, DS Automobiles, and Jaguar are all on the grid for 2021-22.
Where does Formula E take place?
Formula E is dedicated to bringing action straight to the fans, which means racing takes place on street circuits in major cities throughout the world.
The circuits used are shorter in length than those used in Formula One, but feature tight layouts designed to encourage overtaking. Dramatic backdrops only boost the racing’s appeal.
The 2021-22 season has races planned in London, Rome, New York and Berlin, amongst other locations. See the calendar at the end of this article for the full list.
Is Formula E exciting to watch?
Equal machinery, plus talented drivers and compact circuits, mean the competition is as fierce as you would imagine.
Bumping and barging on track is a common occurrence, aided by the strong design of the cars. In fact, one of the reasons Formula E wanted to introduce the GEN2 Evo car was to try and stop drivers from making contact on the track!
Drivers have the use of ‘Attack Mode’, which sounds like something inspired by Mario Kart. By moving off the racing line to run through a special designated area of the track, drivers receive a temporary power boost for their car.
Fans can also use social media to vote for their preferred driver in the run up to each E-Prix. The most popular five drivers then receive an extra ‘Fanboost’ of power to deploy during the second half of the race.
Will I know any of the Formula E drivers?
Initially stocked with a wealth of ex-F1 racers, the Formula E grid has become a desirable motorsport career choice for a wide array of drivers.
F1 experience is still well-represented for 2021-22. Stoffel Vandoorne, Pascal Wehrlein, Sebastien Buemi, and Jean-Eric Vergne all previously raced in F1 before making the switch to EVs.
Antonio Giovinazzi, who spent three seasons with the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team, is the latest addition to the Formula E grid.
The championship is not all about retired F1 drivers, though. André Lotterer, who drives for Porsche, won the World Endurance Championship in 2012.
New Zealander Nick Cassidy, who drives for Envision Racing, has previously won the Super GT and Super Formula championships.
Which British drivers compete in Formula E?
Sam Bird, who drives for the Jaguar Racing team, is pictured here winning the second New York ePrix race last year. He led the championship for much of the 2020-21 season, so will be looking to build on that success in 2022.
Cumbrian-born Oliver Turvey has raced in multiple championships, and is a McLaren F1 test-driver. He is partnered at the NIO 333 team for this season by London-born Dan Ticktum.
Barnsley’s own Oliver Rowland is now into his fifth Formula E season, and currently races for the Mahindra team. Formula E race winner Alex Sims will be alongside him this year.
Avalanche Andretti driver Jake Dennis returns for a second year of Formula E, and has previously competed in the DTM series.
Who is the reigning Formula E champion?
Dutch driver Nyck de Vries won the Drivers’ Championship in the 2020-21 Formula E season.
Driving for the works Mercedes-EQ Formula E team, de Vries notched up two wins, and scored two additional podiums. He edged out Edoardo Mortara, who took second, with Britain’s Jake Dennis in third.
The Mercedes-EQ team also scooped the Teams’ Championship for 2020-21, the first time the German team has won the top prize. Jaguar finished second, with DS Techeetah in third.
What is new in Formula E for 2021-22?
For the 2021-22 season, Formula E organisers have incorporated a host of changes to how race weekends will run.
A new qualifying format will see drivers placed in groups, with the fastest moving through into a duel knockout phase. This will work to a final shootout, seeing two drivers go head-to-head for pole position.
Races can be extended by up to 10 minutes where incidents cause Safety Car or Full Course Yellow neutralisations. This will be in addition to the regular ‘45 minutes plus one lap’ race time.
The cars themselves will also benefit from more power this season. Race output has increased from 200kW to 220kW, with ‘Attack Mode’ now offering up to 250kW.
What safety car does Formula E use?
Another major change for the 2021-22 season is the use of an all-new safety car.
Formula E has previously used the electric BMW i8, with a Mini Electric used for selected rounds in the previous season. However, the 2021-22 season sees the electric Porsche Taycan leading the field.
With a power output of 751hp (560kW), the Taycan Turbo S certainly has the pace to react quickly to incidents. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 2.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 161mph.
The radical livery used by the Porsche Taycan safety car includes colours from all 11 teams competing in the series, as well as those of the FIA and Formula E.
What is the future of Formula E?
The introduction of a new, third-generation ‘GEN3’ Formula E car for the 2022-23 season is the biggest development on the sport’s horizon.
Under the GEN3 rules, Formula E would impose exit penalties on manufacturers who leave the series early. It means manufacturers may need to think hard about signing up for the new series.
Audi Sport and BMW left the series at the end of the 2020-21 season. However, both companies remain as powertrain suppliers. Mercedes-Benz will also leave at the end of the 2021-22 season.
It means Formula E will seemingly need to work hard to retain major manufacturers, and attract new ones. Maserati has committed to entering the competition with the introduction of GEN3 cars.
How can I watch Formula E?
In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 will now provide live coverage of all qualifying sessions and races.
Viewers in the United States can watch all races live through CBS Sports, with a selection to be featured on the CBS Television network. CBS Sports HQ will offer streaming for practice and qualifying.
Formula E also offers live streaming through its dedicated YouTube channel.
Last year saw the release of a 15-episode documentary series called Formula E Unplugged on the official YouTube channel.
2021-2022 FIA Formula E Calendar
| Round | Venue | Date |
| 1 | Diriyah, Saudi Arabia | 28 January 2022 |
| 2 | Diriyah, Saudi Arabia | 29 January 2022 |
| 3 | Mexico City, Mexico | 12 February 2022 |
| 4 | Rome, Italy | 9 April 2022 |
| 5 | Rome, Italy | 10 April 2022 |
| 6 | Monaco, Monte Carlo | 30 April 2022 |
| 7 | Berlin, Germany | 14 May 2022 |
| 8 | Berlin, Germany | 15 May 2022 |
| 9 | Jakarta, Indonesia | 4 June 2022 |
| 10 | Vancouver, Canada | 2 July 2022 |
| 11 | New York City, United States | 16 July 2022 |
| 12 | New York City, United States | 17 July 2022 |
| 13 | London, United Kingdom | 30 July 2022 |
| 14 | London, United Kingdom | 31 July 2022 |
| 15 | Seoul, South Korea | 13 August 2022 |
| 16 | Seoul, South Korea | 14 August 2022 |
ALSO READ:
Alfa Romeo reveals UK’s best tunnels for driving sound
Trio of 304mph Bugatti Chiron Super Sports delivered to London