Formula E: What can it teach Formula One?
Formula One is the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport. With close to half a billion global viewers, F1 is not just a success - it is one of the biggest sports in the world.
As F1 celebrates 70 years, it deserves the pat it gives itself on the back. But it doesn't mean that the FIA and Formula One are relaxing - they want to make the sport even more engaging. And so they should. One of my goals is to make Formula One a more engaging sport. When I look around at my circle of friends, I know that none of them are interested in the sport. Sure, they may pay attention if there is a good overtake or a big crash, but that's about it.
In recent years, more of my generation have taken to Formula One, encouraged by the Netflix series, 'Drive To Survive'. It is a great show, showing behind the scenes of the Formula One world, which had often seemed distant and mysterious. This documentary has caught the attention of a new audience by reminding the onlooking world that there are humans underneath the helmet. That human touch is something that can take a sport a long way.
There is still room for improvement.
“Formula One needs to ask itself a question. Is this a sport that has the fastest cars, or is it a sport that is more focused on entertainment?”
As mentioned, Formula One is a place for the best of the best. However, it turns out that the very best of the best are much quicker than the rest of the field. Mercedes have dominated, winning all of the championships on offer since 2014 - even through different technical regulations. For Mercedes, it has been brilliant. Business is certainly booming as a result of the excellent publicity that you get for making reliable, high-performance hybrid engines. In contrast, for those trying to sell the sport, Mercedes' dominance has become a bit of a pain. Particularly so, now that there isn't the intra-team battle of the Silver Arrows that there once was.
Such hegemony has led to the FIA implementing rules in an attempt to bunch the field together, making racing more exciting. Of course, this is something that the majority wants to see. I include myself in this majority. However, I can't help but feel that the latest idea - to stop teams using different modes of engines from the Belgian Grand Prix - feels like the wrong direction.
Sure, it may close the gap between the Mercedes and the chasing pack slightly in qualifying because they can't increase the performance of their engine. But in decreasing the teams' ability to maximise the performance and reliability of their power units, Formula One needs to ask itself a question. Is this a sport that has the fastest cars, or is it a sport that is more focused on entertainment?
For me, Formula One needs to be special. It needs to be hard to overtake. That way, the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, who make it look easy, get the plaudits that they deserve. There need to be a benchmark for the chasing pack to try and beat. That way, when Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton, we can applaud it, knowing that Max has done a fantastic job. These features are just part of the storyline. You can add to it, but changing the main story would feel fake.
As I write, I plan to watch the Indy 500 this evening. This is a race in which many overtakes happen. This plentiful action will be incredibly welcome in America because there is action throughout. Hence, when an inevitable ad-break rocks up, fans can return to the action, knowing that they haven't missed much.
High scores and plenty of action is present in other large American sports. An NBA or NFL match that ends in a 2-2 draw would be penned a 'bore-fest'. In comparison, a '2-2' football match in another part of the world might be described at a 'four-goal thriller'. Why? Firstly, there is a lot of money to be made in American sports. Secondly, it is because the sporting culture in Europe is to focus on a competition for the whole match, waiting for maybe one or two moments that make you cheer or cry. Formula One comes from European roots and as a result, is consumed similarly.
Consequently, the FIA and Liberty Media have arrived at a crossroads as to determining the DNA of F1. For the FIA, Formula One is their showcase event, so they can't have other categories going faster. Equally, they want Formula One to be sustainable and will ultimately need to yield to those in charge. For Liberty Media, F1 needs to get bums on seats, particularly those viewing from home. Therefore, it will naturally become more important to entertain than to go fast. How far F1 goes in this direction, only time will tell.
“In Formula E, fans - particularly the younger generation - are simply part of the sport, so their involvement is imperative.”
In contrast, Formula E is far from the crossroads at which Formula One finds itself. The all-electric racing series completed its seventh season this month. When you look at the sport's growth over the years, it can be characterised as a resounding success.
Formula E knows who they are and what they want to be. As a result, they continue to move forward. Costs are minimised by teams using sharing an identical chassis. Manufacturers maintain the incentive to compete with mechanical differences being legal for motors, gearboxes and suspension. Some of the world's biggest brands, including BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar, have got involved. Participation of such names indicates the sport's sustainability in more ways than one.
In addition to this, the racing is excellent. With plenty of overtaking, despite taking place on street circuits, those watching have plenty to cheer about during the 45-minute races. The format of qualifying being on the same day as race day and rewarding points for pole position keeps the crowd in attendance happy, with a full day out planned. The impetus to push harder in qualifying for drivers also leads to more considerable excitement and more emphasis on the fastest driver over one lap as well as the full race distance.
Two other significant parts of Formula E, adding to strategy, increasing overtaking and encouraging engagement, are 'Attack Mode' and 'Fan Boost'.
All of the drivers can use Attack Mode by driving through sensors, off the racing line. This gives the driver an additional 35 kWh of power for a limited amount of time. As a result, different drivers will be faster at differing moments of the race. Going off of the racing line will initially slow drivers down, so using Attack Mode is to be done at their own risk.
Fan Boost gives those drivers most mentioned on social media the chance to gain more power. This feature gets the most out of drivers as they interact with fans at and away from the circuit. Advantage those drivers who are the fan favourite.
In Formula One, Fan Boost would likely be seen as a gimmick, taking away from the sport. Whereas, in Formula E, fans - particularly the younger generation - are simply part of the sport, so their involvement is imperative. With this in mind, Formula E has a clear product of which they can grow and sell to more cities around the world.
“F1 without innovation would be a sad place.”
So what can Formula One learn from Formula E?
First of all, they shouldn't and won't copy Formula E in full.
One Chassis Fits All:
Formula One's new rules in 2022 will increase the number of standardised parts. However, there will still be, and I believe there will always be, room left for innovation. F1 without innovation would be a sad place. Some of the greatest minds in this world have the opportunity to make cars faster each day. If they cannot do that in F1, they will find something else that does stimulate them. Having the same chassis decreases costs - an effect of the 2022 regulations. However, going too far the other way would be a negative thing for the sport.
“Qualifying is already an exciting affair, adding a greater reward for driving even faster, I think, would add to the championship.”
Points for Pole:
I like the idea of handing three points to the pole-sitter. Formula One drivers need to be fast over one lap as well as two hours, so rewarding out-and-out pace would make sense. Qualifying is already an exciting affair, adding a greater reward for driving even faster, I think, would add to the championship. I suppose the only thing stopping this from happening would be a championship being won on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. In that instance, Sunday's event may be compromised. With that being said, it may work the other way around and open up the championship for Sunday. So putting this idea in place would be a question of risk and reward for those in charge.
“I know that I have argued against reverse grids in the past, and I stand by it. Nevertheless, I do agree that adding something new to the weekend would be an asset to F1.”
Shorter weekends?:
As an F1 nerd, I digest as much content over the four days of a Formula One weekend as possible. I enjoy it, and I know I am not the only one. However, the question, 'do the clever engineers need all of this time to work out the best strategy?' is valid.
Formula E decreases the size of the weekend to a single Saturday, withholding certain information, regarding the likes of Attack Mode, until shortly before the race. I am not saying that the Formula One should have a one day weekend, like Formula E. But maybe F1 does have too many practice sessions. If some of that time was used for a sprint race in which a minimal amount of points are handed out, it might give Formula One a new dimension. I know that I have argued against reverse grids in the past, and I stand by it. Nevertheless, I do agree that adding something new to the weekend would be an asset to F1.
Ultimately, for F1 to make money, it needs to sell as many seats as possible. So decreasing the number of racing days might be difficult. The idea of Friday morning practice being strictly reserved for test drivers would be appealing as it gives the next generation more experience. The problem then would be that those paying to come to the track wouldn't see as much of the official F1 driver, who they turned up to watch.
There is talk of a two-day weekend in San Marino, later this year, so I would imagine what happens there may or may not galvanise a change in the weekend format.
“Can you imagine the excitement as Lewis Hamilton jumps into Valtteri Bottas' seat to make up for a mistake at the first corner?”
A REAL team championship:
How is this for an idea of weekend format? In Formula E's first-generation cars, part of the excitement was watching the drivers jump between the cars mid-race due to the battery only managing half distance. What if there was a Saturday morning race in which teams had to swap drivers halfway through the race? Can you imagine the excitement as Lewis Hamilton jumps into Valtteri Bottas' seat to make up for a mistake at the first corner? Thrilling.
For sure, you'd have to figure out the practicality of changing seats. But having a short race like this would be a great way to see who is adaptable and would see teammates' relationships strengthen or weaken as time goes on. I would envisage the points for this race going only towards the Constructors Championship. This system would encourage teams to pick the best two drivers out there, rather than a number one and number two driver.
I really do want this to happen now.
“Let's not forget the importance of human engagement in sport.”
Podiums:
Formula One podiums are fantastic. Monza, Mexico and any podium with Daniel Ricciardo on it come to mind. Nonetheless, have you seen a Formula E podium? Because races are all in cities, there are no permanent podiums on which to hand out the trophies and spray the champagne. Instead of making a podium, up high, above the fans, why not have a podium on stage surrounded by fans? Formula E does this, and to see the drivers celebrating with the fans is something that epitomises Formula E's strongest feature. Fan engagement.
We've seen the incredible scenes as Lewis Hamilton crowd-surfs at Silverstone and even Monza. Crowd-surfing just got easier if the fans are right in front of you on the podium. I can imagine the drivers having a lot of fun with that. So maybe bring some podiums into the fan zone or onto the track. F1 would have to play it track-by-track, but I think it would be great to see some fans doing 'shoeys' - post-Coronavirus that is.
Let's not forget the importance of human engagement in sport. The Netflix documentary and Formula E have proven this. A podium is a perfect place for the fans and drivers to interact - therefore, getting it right is critical.
Inevitably, there will be winners and losers and moaners and cheerers as the result of any change. Formula E will reach a similar crossroads in the future - all sports do. How Formula One navigates the next few years will determine its future characteristics. I believe that the technical and financial changes for 2022 are a good step for making sustainable and closer competition. But, why not look to Formula E's ability to engage and try it on for size in Formula One?
As a cutting edge sport, F1 needs to embrace change to become even better. Formula E is proving a match for the ‘best of the best’ - if F1 don’t move forward Formula E will move past, sure of itself as an exciting and viable product for the future.