Sam Smith

Formula E

How the starts of Formula E’s three eras stack up

Formula E has just entered the third epoch of its nine-year existence – but how do the start to the eras compare?

Formula E

Teams’ heroics brought new Formula E era back from the brink

After so many problems in the build-up, Formula E’s Gen3 era began pretty smoothly at Mexico City. That was largely due to Herculean efforts by the teams in recent months. Here’s the inside story from one of them

Formula E

Audi ace gets Formula E debut in place of injured Frijns

The ABT Formula E team has drafted in Audi GT driver Kelvin van der Linde to take the place of Robin Frijns, who is facing a long lay-off following an injury at the Mexico season opener

Formula E

What caused Jaguar’s fraught Formula E Gen3 false start

Jaguar suffered a difficult start to Formula E’s Gen3 era with a lacklustre first race that failed to deliver on the high pre-season expectations

Formula E

How Andretti (and Porsche) pulled off its latest surprise

Andretti and partner Porsche were the class of the Formula E field as Gen3 began in Mexico – and that was unexpected after testing

Formula E

Why Formula E’s new super-team started so badly

Stoffel Vandoorne, Jean-Eric Vergne and DS Penske were the closest thing Formula E had to favourites as Gen3 began at Mexico City, but were nowhere

Formula E

Why FE winner had to complete qualifying with half a wing

Before winning Formula E’s Mexico City E-Prix, Jake Dennis had the bizarre experience of having to contest two qualifying duels with half his car’s front wing missing

Formula E

Winners and losers from Formula E’s 2023 season-opener

Formula E’s 2023 season and Gen3 era opener at Mexico City was full of surprises, as some pre-race favourites floundered and unlikely names starred

Formula E

These decisions will define Formula E’s Gen3 opener

Have the FIA and Formula E made the right calculations to ensure an unpredictable and exciting Gen3 era and 2023 season-opener at Mexico City?

Formula E

Formula E tones down new F1-style rule after team pressure

Formula E has toned down its plan for a new Formula 1 style rule compelling the use of rookie drivers in practice sessions, following pressure from teams

Formula E

A Formula E champion’s unique CV can be a Gen3 trump card

Formula E’s Gen3 revolution will require a massive adjustment from the drivers – and one FE champion’s eclectic CV will come in handy

Formula E

Formula E teams’ verdict on FIA response to Gen3 safety worry

The FIA is working on an emergency brake for Gen3 after accidents in testing – but it’s had to settle for other measures for the opener

Formula E

The low-key trait that could underpin a Formula E title defence

Stoffel Vandoorne appears to have scored a strong car for his Formula E title defence, but it might one of his attributes that is often overlooked which could lead him to further glory

Formula E

Formula E’s new team bosses face very different situations

The two new additions to Formula E’s eclectic roster of team principals are likely to face very different first seasons

Formula E

Formula E now fast-tracking emergency brake for Gen3 cars

The FIA is aiming to fast-track a secondary brake system to use in emergencies for the Diriyah E-Prix races at the end of January

WEC/Le Mans

Ferrari Hypercar who’s who: F1 nearly men and a top prospect

Alongside Antonio Giovinazzi, Ferrari’s hypercar line-up features two drivers who could’ve joined him in F1 and more serious talent

Formula E

Ferrari gives Giovinazzi a redemption shot he mustn’t waste

Antonio Giovinazzi did his reputation and career no favours in his one-off Formula E season. He now has a chance to be part of something spectacular with Ferrari’s Hypercar programme, but he needs to bring the right attitude to it

Formula E

Formula E Gen3 could ‘easily’ be 5s faster – but not until 2025

Among the disquiet about the Gen3 Formula E car over the winter was its modest pace improvement over its predecessor. One champion thinks five seconds can ‘easily’ be found – they just might not come until the next homologation phase in two years’ time

Formula E

Gen3 Formula E car quirk could lead to drivers missing races

The unique design of the Gen3 Formula E car means drivers could miss races if they crash in practice or qualifying – something they were usually able to come back from in Gen2

Formula E

Five Formula E drivers with the most to prove this season

The Formula E grid may be bursting with talent, but some drivers will start the new season hoping for a revival of fortunes – while others are out to make the most of new opportunities

Formula E

Embattled Formula E is in survival mode going into 2023

100 races in and Formula E enters its new Gen3 rules era in 2023 in such a state of unpreparedness that it has backed itself firmly into a position of pure survival this season, says Sam Smith

Formula E

More than just ‘a sticker’? – Formula E’s odd new manufacturer

Getting Maserati back into international motorsport in 2023 is a big coup for Formula E. But is it just a branding exercise or something more tangible?

Formula E

Is Formula E’s own ‘Drive to Survive’ any better in series two?

Behind the scenes documentaries are all the rage in motorsport at the moment, and Formula E’s now in its second series with its ‘Unplugged’ offering. It’s definitely a step up from series one, but it also features glaring omissions

Formula E

The challenge facing a controversial new Formula E team boss

Frederic Bertrand’s move from the FIA to Mahindra may have been controversial but the new Formula E team boss is focused on making the ex-frontrunning squad a winning proposition again

Formula E

When Albon actually tested Nissan’s Formula E car (in secret)

Alex Albon was, for a brief period, a Nissan Formula E driver – until Red Bull and Formula 1 came calling. That resulted in him electing not to get into the team’s car at pre-season testing, but he had driven it in secret beforehand, pictures of which The Race can share

Formula E

How Lotterer will tackle racing his other bosses in 2023

Andre Lotterer will contest two campaigns with Porsche power in 2023, but he’ll only be racing for Porsche in one of those disciplines. Still, he doesn’t expect that will change how he races against his manufacturer employer in Formula E

WEC/Le Mans

A wild tale of tulips, drugs, prison – and Group C sportscars

A Le Mans run alongside Heinz-Harald Frentzen, fifth in 1991 World Sportscars and raising a Formula 3 team-mate of Lewis Hamilton’s were one side of Charles Zwolsman Sr’s life story. Drug-related prison time and a behind-bars demise were the other

Formula E

Formula E race winner bracing to ‘struggle a lot’ with new team

Robin Frijns cut a much more relaxed and affable figure in the Valencia paddock last week compared to the tired and dejected figure we saw in the second half of the 2022 Formula E season. But he’s still expecting a tough start to his new life at Abt after four years with Envision

Formula 1

Inside the toxic season that nearly destroyed McLaren

McLaren’s rebirth as a 1980s Formula 1 powerhouse only came after a fraught battle for control of the team. One of the drivers who was stuck in the middle of it is still riled by what went on in the transitional season

Formula E

Formula E’s defence of Gen3 era’s troubled beginning

Formula E’s heading for the first race of its Gen3 era with question marks over the new car’s reliability, safety and pace. The Race got an FE chief’s take on the situation

Formula E

McLaren looks like an immediate Formula E frontrunner

McLaren had a tough start to Formula E life and expectations for its customer Nissan package were low. But by the end of Valencia testing, it looked like a 2023 title dark horse

Formula E

‘Question marks are coming up’ – shunt fuels Formula E agitation

Sebastien Buemi spearing off the track during the Valencia Formula E test has reinforced serious concerns about Gen3’s street track debut

Formula E

Trackside verdict on Gen3 Formula E cars, with an FE veteran

Our Formula E writer Sam Smith is joined by Oliver Turvey, a veteran of 88 E-Prix starts, for a trackside look at the new Gen3 machines

Formula E

Reliability, safety worries chief among Formula E test takeaways

Formula E teams and drivers learned a lot during the Valencia pre-season test but reliability and safety concerns were the main talking points within the paddock

Formula E

Maserati fastest on final day of Formula E’s pre-season test

Maximilian Guenther once again topped the final test session at Valencia on Friday afternoon, setting the fastest lap of the three-day test which marks the last running before the first race of the 2023 season in Mexico City

Formula E

Jaguar limits test running after Buemi’s concerning crash

Jaguar temporarily parked its cars during this morning’s Formula E test session at Valencia while it investigated Sebastien Buemi’s accident

Formula E

Teams increase push against Formula E’s new F1-style rule

Formula E teams aren’t backing down in their opposition to how the series has copied Formula 1’s rookie driver practice running rule for 2023, and are pushing alternative suggestions

Formula E

Testing’s alleviated some Gen3 reliability fears – but not all

The Gen3 testing conducted so far at Valencia has featured improved reliability from spec components, but Formula E teams say further measures are being worked on to bake in more dependability

Formula E

Formula E gets new manager as part of FIA restructure

Formula E will have an FIA replacement for new Mahindra team principal Frederic Bertrand, as part of a restructuring of the governing body’s sporting department that is due to be completed in early 2023

Formula E

Formula E adds more test running as teams battle issues

An extra test session has been added to the Formula E schedule at Valencia today as teams and organisers push to solve a variety of issues