Formula E is the world's all-electric single-seater championship, raced on temporary street circuits in the centres of major cities. It looks like Formula 1, but it works differently: the cars make no engine noise, the races are decided as much by energy management as by speed, and the championship's signature feature — Attack Mode — forces drivers to leave the racing line to unlock extra power.

How the Sport Works

Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is the highest class of open-wheel racing for electric cars. The first championship race was held in Beijing in September 2014, and the series has held FIA world championship status since 2020.

A race weekend is a single-day format: practice sessions, qualifying and the race, known as an ePrix, usually all on the same day. The circuits are temporary street tracks built in city centres — places like Monaco, London and São Paulo — which makes the racing tight, the walls close, and overtaking a matter of nerve as much as speed.

The cars are single-seaters built to a common formula, with manufacturers developing the powertrain. The current generation, Gen3, arrived for the 2022-23 season and is the fastest regulated electric racing car in the world, with an estimated top speed of 322 kilometres per hour. The cars have no hydraulic brakes on the rear axle — they slow down using the electric motor alone, recovering energy as they do.

Energy management is the heart of the racing. Drivers have a fixed amount of usable energy for the race, and they must manage it lap by lap, lifting off the throttle early and coasting into corners to save power — a technique known as lift and coast. Run out of energy before the finish and the race is over.

Scoring: Attack Mode, Points and Qualifying Duels

Attack Mode is Formula E's signature strategic element. During the race, drivers must steer off the main racing line and through a designated activation zone on the track. Doing so unlocks a temporary power boost — from 300 kW in race mode to 350 kW in Attack Mode with the Gen3 car. Each driver must use Attack Mode a set number of times during the race, and the timing is a strategic choice: take it early and defend with the extra power, or save it for a late charge.

In selected races, drivers must also make a mandatory pit stop called Attack Charge, a 30-second flash charge at up to 600 kW that unlocks an extra phase of Attack Mode later in the race.

Qualifying uses a knockout duels format introduced in the 2021-22 season. Drivers are split into two groups, and the fastest four from each group progress to head-to-head duels, with the winners advancing until a pole-sitter is decided.

Points are awarded to the top ten finishers, with extra points for pole position and the fastest lap. The driver with the most points at the end of the season wins the World Championship, and there is a separate teams' championship for the constructors.

Fanboost, the old feature that let fans vote to give their favourite drivers an extra power boost, was discontinued from the 2023 season. Formula E confirmed the decision in November 2022, saying the feature had served its purpose and the racing had enough strategic elements without it.

Formats and Major Competitions

Since the Gen3 era began, races have been run over a fixed number of laps rather than a timed format — the old 45-minutes-plus-a-lap format was replaced by lap racing from the 2022-23 season, making the races easier to follow. Safety car and full-course yellow periods add laps to the race distance rather than eating into the clock.

The season is built around the ePrix calendar, with races in cities around the world and double-header weekends — two races on consecutive days — at several venues. A new generation of car, Gen4, arrives for the 2026-27 season, bringing more power and faster lap times than the Gen3 car.

A Brief History

Formula E was conceived in 2011 to prove that electric vehicles could be fast, exciting and the future of mobility. The first season in 2014-15 featured spec cars, mid-race car swaps and the Fanboost vote — a series that looked like an experiment. It grew quickly: manufacturers joined, the cars got faster, the mid-race swap was dropped, and in 2020 the championship gained full FIA world championship status.

The Gen3 car, introduced for Season 9, was the biggest step change: lighter, more powerful, more efficient, and capable of fast recharging. The series now sits alongside Formula 1 as one of the two single-seater championships with world championship status.

How to Follow It

Watch the energy numbers, not just the positions. In Formula E, the driver leading with five laps to go is not necessarily the driver who will win — the one with the most usable energy left is. Attack Mode timing is the other thing to watch: a driver who takes it early gains track position but must defend on the normal line, while a driver who saves it can charge through the field late.

For a first race, pick a double-header weekend: two races, two different strategic puzzles, and twice the chance to see why the championship's fans call it the most unpredictable racing series in the world.