Todt: Formula E can be beneficial to other Championships

Formula E will mark a new step forward in motorsport this weekend with the first ePrix contested on the streets of Beijing (China) where the FIA ​​World Council is also taking place. Jean Todt, the President of the Federation, could therefore not miss the meeting, especially since this new electric single-seater Championship raises a lot of expectations from the public and the press. “I can’t speak to (its possible) success. We have to watch the first race. Formula E is only just beginning and it is necessary to study the first season carefully to see what is working and what is not. As popularity and the calendar take shape, the presence of new teams and new manufacturers will be essential. »

Jean Todt also believes that Formula E can bring a fresh perspective to motor racing by inspiring other categories encountering certain adaptation difficulties, particularly on the financial side. “We can expect developments in batteries, mechanical technology and safety issues that could be transferred to other Championships like the F1, WEC… ”, continues the former director of the Team Ferrari. “We always learn from one Championship to another. For example, costs frequently explode due to aerodynamic development. Formula E is quite limited in this area and I think that's a good thing because you can sometimes see the degree of complexity on the aero of a car. The smallest appendage in F1 requires a lot of work in the wind tunnel. I would say that we must rather develop points which can be transferred to touring cars as much as possible. »

If the FIA ​​tried to seduce the public with electric single-seater races by carrying out urban races to compensate for the absence of noise and come directly to the spectators, the organizers perhaps lost their way by launching “FanBoost” which allows Internet users to vote for their favorite driver(s) who will have a brief moment of additional power. But Jean Todt defends the idea. “Each team, each driver must ensure that they have the best possible support from the spectators. I think this is a new and friendly initiative which should not impact the final result. I really hope that this discipline will allow the public to be close to the drivers, people love that. Competitors are more accessible in endurance, it creates bonds. »