The tests of They took place against all expectations and despite the enormous uncertainty that reigned in the days leading up to the event following a last minute change of venue. Mitch Evans set the rhythm of the four days, with a best time of 1:27.461 on the final day at the Jarama circuitbut no fewer than five teams and drivers set the best times in the other sessions, meaning it will be a very close season.
All time spent on the track equals 21 hours, which will be the teams’ last experience before the battle begins. December 7 in Sao Paulo. As usual, testing in Spain revealed several subplots, and here are the five things we learned from filming at the Madrid circuit.
Last minute venue change shows Formula E at its best
The devastating floods and death of more than 200 people in the Valencia region a few days before the arrival of Formula E at the Ricardo Tormo circuit They jeopardized pre-season testing and even the first race of the year. The logistical base of the 100% electric championship being located on the track, it was necessary to recover vital equipment from the Valencia region not only for any new event, but also for the first round in Sao Paulo.
“We have a very positive attitude in Formula E, we have a lot of people who are totally committed to the business and they have worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week for three days, and the spirit has always been very positive .” he said the co-founder of the championship, Alberto Longo. “You watched the TV and said to yourself: ‘How on earth are they going to get the whole team to Madrid and have enough time to provide service at the level we are offering today?'”
With no choice but to change location and with only 72 hours to spare, the category moved to the Jarama course, where eight trucks made around 40 trips to transport around a hundred tonnes between Valencia and Madrid. This enormous effort was worth it and, despite the late decision, the four days went off without a hitch.
Championship organizers have pledged to donate €50,000 to relief efforts in Valencia, while also creating a fundraising page so fans, partners and teams can contribute.
The Jarama Circuit, a pleasant surprise
The comment of Dan Ticktum The fact that it was “the best circuit I had never heard of” perfectly sums up what many drivers thought of the Jarama circuit, which hosted Formula E for the first time. more than three kilometers, with FIA Grade 2 and on the outskirts of Madrid, hosted the Grand Prix nine times between 1968 and 1981with the last of them with the victory of and, more recently, it was the scene of motorcycle and truck races.
An old school circuit in every sense of the word, with barriers close to the edge of the asphalt, little escape, as well as a mixture of high-speed banked corners and elevation changes, it quickly became a rider favorite. The appeal and good reception were such that the category manager, Jeff Doddsconsidered it as a possible venue in the future, after Spain last held an official event in 2021.
The Gen3 Evo impresses and the tires talk
Much of the attention heading into this season focused on the new Gen3 Evo and, in particular, on the all-wheel drive technology, which will be activated with 350 kW at the start of the racein Attack mode and in ranking duels. This allows for a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 1.82 seconds, faster than current times. 1, and was the center of technical attention during the tests, since the tires were on everyone’s lips.
Hankook initially offered a substantial performance advantage over its predecessor, the less durable tire with a considerable loss of grip during a run, which will impact strategy and the weekend’s racing.
“The tires have a huge peak in performance during one lap, then, on the second lap, there is a little degradation and, on the third, another stage of wear,” he said. Antonio Felix da Costa. “You have to be a little careful with your lap times because on a race weekend you’ll never do a 350kW lap on new tires. You may find that the cars don’t run as much during free practice and they save sets of tires, of course.
The jury is still out on the concept of “pit boost”
On Thursday afternoon, teams and drivers were able to complete a race simulation, an annual tradition of Formula E pre-season training, but this year with a new format. During the 24 laps the concept of recharging in the pits was testedand each driver had to enter the pit lane to receive an additional charge of energy equivalent to 10% of the battery capacity, thanks to a half-minute break with 600 kW.
The idea was originally conceived for the start of the Gen3 single-seater era in 2022, but reliability issues meant the technology was developed enough to be used in a racing situation. led the double of during the event, but before that, the current champion was cautious with the technology because it added an unpredictable variable that could drastically change the outcome of races.
“There could be races and situations where it would be unfair to reduce almost half the field if there was a safety car at the wrong time,” he said. “So we need to check it out and figure out how we could make it more equitable.”
The FIA and Formula E They have not yet made a final decision on the application of pit stops to recharge energy this season.. Data from the sim race will be analyzed and a final verdict will be given before the season starts in December, although even if it arrives it will only be used during the double test weekends, with one of the races where yes, pit lane crossing would be used to create alternative strategies.
The women’s event, a vital opportunity
The Friday afternoon session was reserved for female drivers, for the first time in an FIA world championship. Each team was required to have at least one, and up to 18 showed up on the Jarama pitch, with names such as either in addition to either .
The current F1 Academy leader was leading the table with Nissan after three hours, while Abbi Pulling clocked 1:30.889even though he had never tried the car before: “I can’t thank Formula E enough for the opportunity they gave us, they welcomed us with open arms. At the end of the day, they didn’t They don’t have to, so it’s good that they’re really putting pressure on us and I hope it’s not the last thing they do.
“It’s every young driver’s dream to have the opportunity to drive more complicated cars and develop as a driver, work with established teams and ultimately it’s a great opportunity for women,” she said.
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