Formula E 2021.

Nasher said:
Not watched this for years, but now it's on C4 I took a look. Still seems like F1 LARP.

I didn't realise the cars top out at only 120mph if they don't want to go flat in minutes lol. I bet most of the track day stuff out there would lap quicker than these.
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You'd be surprised how quick they are off the line, due to the torque etc. Obviously with the limitations to batteries they top out pretty low compared to F1/Indycar.

 
EVH said:
You'd be surprised how quick they are off the line, due to the torque etc. Obviously with the limitations to batteries they top out pretty low compared to F1/Indycar.

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I heard they were slower than Formula Ford a while back, which isn't even on the same scale as the others. Those are beginner, even weekend armature racer cars.
 
Nasher said:
I heard they were slower than Formula Ford a while back, which isn't even on the same scale as the others. Those are beginner, even weekend armature racer cars.
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I can't see that. Maybe in very specific cases - very fast circuits with minimal braking (like the old Osterreichring) on race pace - but on most they ought to be much quicker than FF with more downforce and much more power (around 335hp equivalent, though with much more torque) though significantly heavier too of course. Certainly in qualifying where they don't have to regen and have more power (and 140% more power in the upcoming Gen3 car (around 470hp equivalent)).

The top speed of a FE car isn't 120mph as you said earlier. That's probably the sort of speed they top out at on most of their short city track straights, but the cars themselves are apparently capable of 174mph.

Like I said earlier, comparisons are difficult, but all in all they were around the space speed as what an F3 car would be around Monaco, which as far as I know is the only track we can use as a comparison.
 
this_is_gav said:
I can't see that. Maybe in very specific cases - very fast circuits with minimal braking (like the old Osterreichring) on race pace - but on most they ought to be much quicker than FF with more downforce and much more power (around 335hp equivalent, though with much more torque) though significantly heavier too of course. Certainly in qualifying where they don't have to regen and have more power (and 140% more power in the upcoming Gen3 car (around 470hp equivalent)).

The top speed of a FE car isn't 120mph as you said earlier. That's probably the sort of speed they top out at on most of their short city track straights, but the cars themselves are apparently capable of 174mph.

Like I said earlier, comparisons are difficult, but all in all they were around the space speed as what an F3 car would be around Monaco, which as far as I know is the only track we can use as a comparison.
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A Formula-E car is over twice as heavy as a formula Ford!

Some of the Caterhams have way more power to weight. A F3 car would probably blitz it anywhere tbh and it can race for more than 15-20 minutes.

I think that is why FE isn't all that watched, the performance isn't anything spectacular and it's short.
 
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Nasher said:
A Formula-E car is over twice as heavy as a formula Ford!

Some of the Caterhams have way more power to weight. A F3 car would probably blitz it anywhere tbh and it can race for more than 15-20 minutes.
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Power to weight is undoubtedly slower, but the downforce would make a massive difference. Not as big as some other series given the speed on the tracks they generally race on, but on a quicker track it would improve the lap times greatly.
 
Nasher said:
Some of the Caterhams have way more power to weight. A F3 car would probably blitz it anywhere tbh and it can race for more than 15-20 minutes.

I think that is why FE isn't all that watched, the performance isn't anything spectacular and it's short.
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Formula E races are 45 minutes + 1 lap. Short by F1 standards, but up there with many other motorsports, and while Formula E cars don't race at particularly high top speeds they accelerate very fast, and are considered very complicated to drive: there's a reason that Formula E's top drivers are on multi-million dollar salaries. For a sport with such a short history, I think 30 million tuning in for the average race (2019 figures) is more than respectable.

Formula E does have issues but it's usually a good watch on TV, even better live - and cheap enough that a weekend away for the races is a reasonable proposition even for relatively casual fans.
 
But there is no noise, which is a big thing of watching live racing. The sound creates an adrenaline rush for the audience and the atmosphere. When it sounds like RC car it's a bit meh. I can't see racing at a pro level surviving if it all goes electric really.
 
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Mr Jack said:
Have you watched a live Formula E race? I have. It was great.
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Yes it's very novel still, but it's dirt cheap so that people actually go. I wouldn't pay F1 ticket prices for it. There is no big talent in it either, just a load of washed up drivers from other formulas.

It's no more entertaining than weekend banger racing.
 
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Freakbro said:
Far far less I would say
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I think pretty much all motorsport is less entertaining than banger racing. It is entertainment first, racing second. Often good banter, like most club racing though.

Formula E is as much about the future, promoting and driving technology forward as it is the racing.

It has issues and most of them are fair to discuss and obviously it's never going to appeal to everyone, but I, a F1 fan of 30 years happen to enjoy the racing, often more than F1 and Indycar. The London races were a bit poor though.
 
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Final race of the season in a few hours. There are 14 drivers in contention, and I've seen a lot of approving commentary about that, but - to me - it seems that having so many contenders suggests that the racing has been all a bit too random. Previously I've been a fan of Formula E's qualifying format but I'm coming round to the view that it's all a bit too pot luck.
 
Looks like Formula E are going to lose Mercedes after this race (which will also affect Rokit Venturi), to add to Audi and BMW already announced as leaving. Perhaps someone like Ineos will take over the team?


Mr Jack said:
Final race of the season in a few hours. There are 14 drivers in contention, and I've seen a lot of approving commentary about that, but - to me - it seems that having so many contenders suggests that the racing has been all a bit too random. Previously I've been a fan of Formula E's qualifying format but I'm coming round to the view that it's all a bit too pot luck.
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It's not pot luck as such, it's just they are in a largely spec series with mostly similarly good drivers, so the margin for errors are tiny. Less than a 0.1 separated those qualifying in the top 6 for Super Pole and and the car which will line up in 15th.

It's less gimmicky than something like reverse grids, but it still makes for more interesting races than if the quickest cars were almost guaranteed to be at the front every single race. The disadvantage of those in group 1 is heightened because of the nature of evolving track conditions in street races, but for double headers (like Berlin) is less of an issue, yet still only one of the title favourites got into Super Pole, and it's also worked the other way when weather has affected qualifying. The best still tend to make their way towards the front by the end of the race.

It's certainly not a perfect series, but my only real issue is Fan Boost. Otherwise, for what it is, I still find it an enjoyable series to watch.
 
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