F1 is a sporting empire with rock star drivers, multibillion dollar teams and a carbon footprint comparable to a small African country. All-electric Formula E is a fraction of its scale, but it is the future of racing.
The two franchises recently met in the same country for the first time in Japan. This was at a time when both were reaching major milestones. Formula E is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary and is gaining recognition, while the other is in its final season. We are deploying low-emissions technologies to achieve net zero by 2030.
With greening being the clear path forward for motorsport, FE chiefs say it's only a matter of time before the start-up catches up to its gas-guzzling brethren.
In an interview during the Tokyo E-Prix on March 29, one week before the F1 race in Suzuka, CEO Geoff Dodds said, “Obviously there's a period where we have a huge advantage compared to F1.'' I'm coming,” he said. “I don't know if that means we're going to continue to be bigger than them or if it means we're going to continue to take over them or something else. At this point I don't know. All I know is that there is still a lot of growth ahead of us.”
Global interest in FE is rapidly growing as media companies and sponsors bet on growing audience interest in e-vehicle-based sports. FE counts Julius Baer, Allianz SE and DHL Worldwide Express among its partners, and US broadcaster CBS Sports has announced it will be showing more races. Countries including Thailand want to host the tournament. Billionaires and sports stars also participate in the adjacent electric boat racing competition.
Indeed, F1 remains the world's dominant auto racing franchise, and its fan base continues to grow outside of Europe after its big breakthrough in the United States. Viewers love the glitz and glamor of racing and the harsh sounds of roaring engines and squealing tires.
But growing concerns about sustainability in the sport are creating a different type of race fan that could chip away at F1's dominance. Mr Dodd said Formula E had attracted nearly 400 million fans since its inception. In comparison, F1 attracted around 1.5 billion TV viewers in 2023, but added that the race was gaining new supporters among women and people under 40.
These beginners are also embracing a whole new, guilt-free way to enjoy the sport. FE races tend to be cheaper and in more convenient locations, such as those held in Tokyo these days. It is common to travel to races using public transportation.
In F1, the racing itself accounts for a portion of the total emissions, with most of that coming from transport and air travel. Nevertheless, it remains spectacular in terms of equipment and manpower, often leaving behind a large entourage and mounds of burnt tires. In contrast, the FE team is much smaller, with Nissan traveling with just 25 people and only two sets of tires available for each race.
In its latest sustainability report published on Wednesday, F1 pledged to reduce the amount of equipment and people it travels.
“It's about accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, it's about accelerating global education about the importance of climate change,” Dodds said.
FE's recent upgrades also show that you don't necessarily have to sacrifice speed. Equipped with 400-kilowatt batteries, each car can reach speeds close to 220 miles per hour (350 kilometers per hour), and they're getting faster. The next generation car, which is more efficient and has nearly twice the horsepower, is expected to be unveiled later this season.
And by testing different technologies at breakneck speed on race tracks in different climates, major manufacturers can use what they learn on the track to make better EVs for the road, and vice versa.
“If you can survive on FE, it's relatively easy to survive on regular highways,” said Holger, global CEO of Germany's ZF Group, one of the world's largest car suppliers and a founding member of the race.・Mr. Klein says:
F1 fans understand that a green shift in the sport is inevitable and the recent Suzuka race has been bittersweet.
Ryo Tayama, 40, attended with a friend wearing a replica full-body suit embroidered with recently retired Sebastian Vettel's name. Vettel has previously said that the climate crisis and F1's role influenced his decision to leave the sport.
“I love F1, but things have to change,” Tayama said. “Being carbon neutral means giving future generations the opportunity to enjoy motorsport.”