How Formula E has gone against its DNA with latest calendar announcement

The early concept of Formula E was simple: take racing to those in city centres. The low noise levels and air pollution, paired with education on electric mobility and fans using public transport to travel to races, made this a very appealing proposal for a host of nations.  

With a promise of “the most beautiful and well-known landmarks as a spectacular backdrop for the races” from Formula E founder Alejandro Agag, it’s fair to say the championship delivered on that promise for its debut campaign across 2014 and 2015. Although it wasn’t known if Formula E could survive in its infancy, with doubts on if it would continue raised after every round, there’s no denying that the calendar sent a clear message – big cities and destinations were at the core.

Beijing hosted the first race, with a street circuit formed around the grounds of the Olympic Stadium, with later rounds including Buenos Aires, Miami, Monaco, Berlin, Moscow and a finale in London. As seasons went on, the list of prominent places grew, with Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Rome all joining the party.

Formula E was even responsible for bringing motor racing back to Switzerland after the 1955 Le Mans disaster saw it banned in the country. The Zurich E-Prix was attended by over 150,000 spectators and featured a cobbled pitlane and tram lines running across the track. It was a rustic and pure street circuit in every meaning of the word.

But as technology rapidly improved, and these electric single-seaters became quicker and more powerful, it started to become clear that these types of circuits might not be the safest option anymore. Cracks had started to show and, after two mammoth crashes in Cape Town and Rome raised concerns, more permanent facilities started to take their place.

The 2025-26 calendar that was recently revealed continues with that theme of permanent tracks, with a return of venues like the Shanghai International Circuit, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City and a new addition of Jarama in Madrid, Spain. These circuits weave themself between the likes of Monaco and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which made its debut in this current season.

Recent years have seen a shift in Formula E's philosophy, as it has started visiting more traditional circuits

Photo by: DPPI

As someone who has been covering this championship from the beginning, it feels like an integral part of its DNA has degraded and there’s no going back. With the priority now being key markets like China and the United States - with talks of two separate race weekends for each of those countries on future calendars – there is also the promise of Gen4 machines being bigger and better.

Consistent four-wheel drive, 600kW power output and 700kW of regen are just some of the technical specifications for the car that is expected to be revealed next month. As much as I am pleased to see this development, and the championship should be proud of what it has achieved in partnership with the FIA, it feels like the constant push for standout statistics has destroyed one of Formula E’s original and key pillars.

Speaking to CEO Jeff Dodds, it’s clear that he knows the old days are over. “The technology and innovation evolution we have in the sport with cars getting faster and faster, and the hanker for the first season where you have incredibly tight, small, short street circuits in the middle of cities like Paris and London, are incompatible,” he says. 

As Formula 1 seems to be obsessed with only introducing street circuits whilst traditional venues drop off the calendar, its electric counterpart is opting to go in the other direction

“There are many circuits we've raced on in our history that you just simply cannot put that car on safely. I'm not interested in building this car and then turning the power down and saying, ‘oh, we'll just race it with half the power’. That wouldn't work for me.” 

From discussions with drivers in the paddock, it’s understood that the technology does exist to create a modular Formula E car which could adjust its output depending on where around the circuit it is – reducing speeds in areas where it would normally be too ‘dangerous’ at full throttle.

Although for many this idea seems totally backwards, it could offer a solution to the increased level of permanent facilities that keep appearing on the calendar, much to the disappointment of some drivers who would thrive on the unique challenges that came with racing on these street tracks.

Dodds reckons a lot of street circuits are a thing of the past for Formula E

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“In practical terms, we are [moving away from city centres],” Formula E co-founder and chief championship officer Alberto Longo adds. “In the 2014-15 calendar, we didn't have any permanent tracks so there’s definitely been a change on that.  

“But it is exactly as you said, that change is driven by the fact that these cars are more challenging to race in the heart of the biggest cities of the world. Paris, for example, it would be amazing to be racing there, but we can’t because the streets are just not wide enough or safe enough for us. 

“What you can rest assured is that our DNA remains intact, and every time that we go to a city, we try to find a location in the middle of it, or at least a street racing track, but for us it's more important to be racing in the key markets that the ecosystems are telling us is important. That prevails over the fact of if we’re racing in the city centre.” 

It’s also known that street circuits are not cheap to research and install. It takes months, sometimes even years of planning, whereas a track that already exists will be kinder on the bank balance.

But as well as the literal cost, what price does the championship pay for being further from those it is trying to target?  

As Formula 1 seems to be obsessed with only introducing street circuits whilst traditional venues drop off the calendar, its electric counterpart is opting to go in the other direction.

Street tracks are now something F1 is targeting and not Formula E

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images