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The 2018-19 Formula E season marks a brand new era in the competition. Since 2014, we have had 4 seasons with 4 different drivers crowned as champions. Nelson Piquet Junior won the inaugural season with China Racing, Sébastian Buemi with Renault e.dams in 2015-16, Lucas di Grassi triumphed with Audi Sport in 2016-17 and Jean-Éric Vergne nabbed the title with Techeetah last season.
A lot of big name manufacturers are already in the fray and this season sees the entry of the HWA team, a precursor to the Mercedes team, which will enter Formula E from 2019-20. Ex-McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne will be driving for them along with Gary Paffett.
BMW has entered as a manufacturer, partnering with Andretti Autosport while Nissan has entered the championship as a manufacturer replacing partner company Renault in their partnership with DAMS. Renault cited a desire to concentrate on their Formula One programme as their motivation for leaving Formula E
Since the second season, powertrain manufacturers have built their own electric motor, inverter, gearbox and cooling system, with the chassis and battery staying the same. There are nine manufacturers creating powertrains: ABT Schaeffler, Andretti Technologies, DS-Virgin, Jaguar, Mahindra, NextEV TCR, Penske, Renault, and Venturi. Starting with Saudi Arabia, the season is going to be very closely fought and there are reasons aplenty to follow it.
#5 Powerful Generation 2 Cars
The 2018-19 season will feature the all-new Gen2, second-generation Formula E car, which boasts significant technological advances over the previous Spark-Renault SRT 01E chassis – with its power output rising from 200kW to 250kW and top speeds rising to around 280km/h.
The arrival of the Gen2 car will also see an end to the mid-race car-swaps. Besides, all Gen2 cars will be equipped with Brembo braking system, chosen by Spark Racing Technology as the sole supplier.
#4 Time-based race and FanBoost
The races will be 45 minutes plus 1 lap and the winner declared hence as against earlier when the number of laps were to be completed for the race. The races will be run closer and faster than before. Formula E is the only event in the world that lets fans play an active role in influencing the outcome of the race.
The FanBoost is a concept introduced by the FIA in the Formula E Championship to give the five "most popular" drivers a temporary boost in power in each ePrix. Fans vote for their favourite driver through the FIA's website (or official accounts on social media), to give a boost in power totalling 100 kJ worth of energy in the second half of the race.
The FanBoost gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite drivers and award them an extra boost of power during the race. 5 drivers will receive the boost of power.
#3 Attack Mode
The series will introduce a system dubbed attack mode or Mario Kart mode in which drivers will receive an additional 25 kW of power by driving through a designated area of the circuit off the racing line. The drivers will have to go off the racing line that is slower to be able to get the attack mode activated.
It will thus ensure a cat and mouse chase with the overtaken drivers always having a chance to pounce right back. The duration of the boost mode and the number of boosts available will be decided in advance of a race by the FIA to stop teams from anticipating its use and incorporating it into race strategies.
It has been criticised in some quarters as being too video game like, but the chances of it giving an added dimension to the race craft can't be denied.
#2 New All-Weather Tyres
Michelin are the sole tyre suppliers for Formula E, and the tyres will have the task of doing the entire race as there is no car swap anymore. The drivers will have to manage the tires longer and they will feature in the race strategy and management.
Unlike Formula 1, there are no slicks, intermediates and wet weather tires and Michelin brings just all-weather tyres, similar to the road tires. It is particularly challenging as it put forth a challenge to maximize their potential in every circuit they visit, be a street circuit or a vintage racing one.
The new Michelin Pilot Sport tires push out the envelope of racing tire thinking. Reducing the amount of raw materials that go into each tire has been a priority for the team at Michelin. Compared with the first-generation Formula E tire, the front Pilot Sport tips the scales at 2kg less, while the rear tire is 2.5kg lighter.
#1 Strong grid of 22 drivers
A very highly skilled roster of drivers with former F1 drivers also in the mix. Felipe Massa says Formula E could see a more competitive championship compared to Formula 1. Ex Ferrari and Williams driver Massa, who won 11 F1 Grands Prix, will drive for Venturi for the next 3 seasons.
"I think what makes things interesting in Formula E, and I really hope it happens with me, is that many drivers are able to win the race. Maybe many drivers can win the championship. I think it is a lot more closer compared to the cars in Formula E and cars in Formula 1."
Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne enters as the defending Drivers’ Champion after securing his first title at the New York City ePrix, while Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler return to compete as the defending constructor's champions – having beaten Vergne's Techeetah team by a narrow two-point margin.
