Today we’re going to look at the difference between Formula One and Formula E
Depending on your viewpoint, you probably already have an idea of a difference, along
the lines of that one is amazing and the other is a boring embarrassment you struggle to
watch. In a sense, the difference between Formula
One and Formula E is quite simple. One is a nearly-septagenarian grand Prix series
which grew from European racing, with the aim of using the most cutting-edge cars of
the day to create the most spectacular races. The other is barely approaching its first
half-decade of life, uses temporary street circuits and held its inaugural race in China
The sticking point is that it also uses the most cutting-edge technology of the day.
Which is where you get a conflict and an endless debate more circular than if you bring Indycar
into it. In reality, it’s very hard to compare F1
and FE racing. The strategic calls in both are totally different and skills aren’t
instantly transferable between the two for teams or drivers.
In Formula One, large teams model huge amounts of data to build an optimum strategy - highly
customisable cars get their every element tweaked and teams decide some elements, like
tyre choices, weeks in advance. It means that it’s highly technologically
refined but that a lot of the action that goes into producing an F1 race goes on behind
the scenes. Formula E is personnel and cost limited, with
a condensed race weekend that means a lot less tinkering.
By the time you get to lights out, strategic calls might still be being made on the fly
- with drivers doing maths about energy targets in their heads as they race - even moreso
now it moves to a pit-stop-less Gen2 race. So in reality, the difference between F1 and
FE is ‘almost everything’ which is why it gets people frustrated to compare the two.
There is one question and I've got to get it out there
The racing in particular When people ask me, 'so what's the difference
between Formula 1 and Formula E?'
[YOWL]
So why does it keep coming up? It basically comes down to a debate about
what the bleeding edge of automotive technology is.
There’s a fair argument for saying that, for now, they both are.
Formula E has over twice as many manufacturers involved as F1
Because the race to develop electric vehicles is key to selling cars in the near future,
for an ever increasing number of places around the world
But racing fans don’t necessarily want to let go of combustion yet.
And whether F1 stays on the cutting edge of tech or stays racing with petrol engines is
one of the biggest questions about its future right now. And the smallest one for Formula
E. Two very different series, their common ground
is the history and future of the automotive industry, a bit like fighting over a fortune-telling
scrapyard. Which is why people can’t stop comparing
them, even if they’re not at all alike. Sorry Sam.
This episode was written by Hazel Southwell, a motorsports journalist with a particular
speciality in Formula E and electric vehicles. You can find her on Twitter, reporting from
the FE paddock, or on a number of motorsport outlets and you won’t be disappointed with
her brilliant articles. This video is also the first of an increasing
number of Formula E videos on this channel. Don’t worry, there will still be the usual
amount of F1 content and this channel will be focussed mainly on F1. But Formula E is
incredibly interesting from a technological point of view, but also in the way the sport
is constructed from its rules to how it’s trying to position itself with the audience.
So there’s plenty of interest there. And a brand new season starts in just over a week,
so what better time?