Formula E
Formula E is moving away from cities: "It's much more expensive to build a circuit than to rent one."
© DPPI
At her birth, the Formula E had made the city his sanctuary. A choice dictated by batteries that at the time did not last the distance and cars that had to be changed mid-race until season 4 (2017-2018). On a circuit like Monza, the battery would have been drained in two or three laps. So we used the city's characteristics to our advantage, the winding nature of city centers, to recharge the batteries. " Jeff Dodds reminds us on the microphone of Business of Sports.
Today, technology has taken over. We have now reached a technological stage where we can go on these race tracks, because the technology has greatly improved, and we want to showcase these cars that exceed 320 km/h for 40 or 50 minutes. »
The argument is also financial, as building a temporary circuit costs a fortune. From an economic point of view, it is much more expensive to build in the city than to rent an existing circuit " he concludes. A pragmatism that has already proven successful in Paris, New York, and Hong Kong. The era of 100% urban development is already fading in favor of more hybrid designs, like the recent choices made in Miami, Jeddah, and Madrid.
Towards more permanent circuits in Formula E
« We will introduce more and more permanent circuits over time, partly because it's cheaper to do so. But it's also because cars are getting faster and faster. So it's difficult to build a circuit in the city for a car which exceeds 320 km/h and can reach 100 km/h 30% faster than a F1 " concedes the head of the FE.
Yet, it was precisely this proximity that created the enthusiasm. In the city, 50,000 people come by public transport because it is accessible "Dodds points out. By moving to permanent, sometimes isolated circuits, Formula E risks racing in front of sparse crowds, as in Misano in 2024.
The spectacle of energy management, which is the essence of Formula E, risks being diluted in races on tracks too wide for the series' identity. Jeff Dodds, however, insists he wants to maintain flexibility and seek out tracks " complex and winding "Close to city centers, close to the identity of the discipline. With the first E-Prix held on the permanent Jarama circuit in March 2026, FE seems to be keeping its promises for the time being."
Formula E is evolving, but it's careful not to lose its core identity in the gravel of permanent circuits. From the 2026-2027 season onwards, the challenge for Gen4 will not only be to approach the top speeds of the premier category, but to remain, against all odds, a Formula E car.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
08/04/2026 at 01:19 a.m.
"Much more expensive to build a circuit than to rent one!" Common sense (GBS, as my grandmother used to say), but above all, Formula E is being brought down to earth by economic reality. Misano, what a mistake for coffee grinders and Dyson vacuum cleaners, a track that really draws crowds in MotoGP!! That being said, if Formula E, with its Gen4, wants to take advantage of permanent tracks abandoned by F1 and close to major urban centers, then it should go to Jarama (which was full), Brands Hatch, Estoril, Hockenheim, Zandvoort, Kyalami, Buddh, Sepang, Yeongam... venture into new countries (Australia with Adelaide or Eastern Creek, or New Zealand with Hampton Downs or Taupo) and/or make another attempt in Canada (Mosport or Mont Tremblant)!