Formula E will introduce the faster Gen3 car in the 2022/23 season – series veteran Lucas di Grassi does not expect any major changes to the tracks
Faster and more spectacular: the introduction of the Gen3 car in the 2022/23 Formula E season is already casting its shadow. The more powerful cars could lead to some changes at the electric Formula World Championship circuits, but Lucas di Grassi doesn’t expect any big jumps as the energy capacity will remain almost unchanged.
Formula E managing director Jamie Reigle has only recently spoken about potential modifications to the tracks, as the new Gen3 cars, with their 350 kilowatts of power, will be faster than their predecessors, which only have up to 250 kilowatts. Di Grassi, however, dampens expectations that Formula E will make a big leap in the future.
“I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding,” says di Grassi. “We will have more power with the Gen3 cars, but the power capacity is about the same as what we have today.” Therefore, there could be no significantly bigger tracks as there would not be enough energy for a race. The full Grand Prix circuit in Mexico, as an example, would be out of the question, he said.
“The car is smaller, shorter and has a shorter wheelbase, which will fit better on the street circuits,” said the Brazilian, who is one of the Formula E veterans and has contested all seasons. “But it’s still about energy management and there’s still a limit to the tracks we’re racing on today. “
Di Grassi makes it clear that the new car was also not designed for traditional circuits like the full course in Mexico and that tight and short street circuits would continue to dominate the calendar. Nevertheless, the new car could reach over 320 kilometres per hour. The technology, such as the gearbox, has been built for the road courses despite the extra power.
Antonio Felix da Costa agrees with his colleague and therefore sees few possibilities to change the tracks. Paris was one such case, he said, as the course was too narrow for the Gen1 car, which had only 150 kilowatts of power. “I don’t know how fast the Gen3 car will be, but there are tracks that were already very tight. There – for example in Paris – it needs small changes. “