As the 2024-2025 Formula E season 11 gets underway in São Paulo, fans can look forward to thrilling races, groundbreaking technology, and fresh faces on the grid.
Here’s a complete breakdown of what lies ahead in Season 11.
Next-Gen Technology: Gen3 Evo and Attack Charge
This season introduces the Gen3 Evo cars, an evolution of the Gen3 models which launched two years ago.
These updated cars feature an aerodynamic redesign, including a sleeker front wing and added fins near the rear wheels, along with all-wheel drive, usable during starts, qualifying, and Attack Mode.
These updates improve acceleration significantly, allowing the cars to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.86 seconds – 30% faster than a Formula 1 car.
Hankook has also upgraded the tyres, boosting grip to cut lap times by 2-3 seconds. Power outputs remain the same: 300 kW for races and 350 kW during qualifying or Attack Mode.
The long-awaited rapid charging system, “Attack Charge,” will debut this season. Tested successfully at pre-season trials in Madrid, it will feature in select races and require drivers to make a pit stop to unlock extra Attack Mode boosts. However, logistical limitations mean it won’t be used at every event.
Additionally, the Constructors’ trophy, introduced last year, has now been elevated to FIA World Championship status.
Only the top two cars from each manufacturer will earn points for this championship.
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Key team and driver changes
This season marks the long-awaited return of Lola to FIA-level competition. Partnering with Yamaha, this marks Lola’s return to an FIA World Championship after their brief Formula 1 stint in 1997.
The team has kept Lucas di Grassi, who raced with ABT-Cupra last season and added Zane Maloney from Formula 2, where he ranks fourth.
In another major change, ERT has rebranded as Kiro Race Co after being acquired by U.S.-based Forest Road Company. The team has also switched to a Porsche powertrain, making Porsche the first manufacturer to supply three teams alongside their factory squad and Andretti.
Kiro Race Co. announced its drivers in October: Dan Ticktum, who has been with the team through its NIO and ERT iterations, and David Beckmann, Porsche’s test and reserve driver.
In breaking news, Kiro Race Co has announced a multi-year partnership with CUPRA, becoming the team’s official co-title sponsor and changing their name to CUPRA KIRO.
Several teams have maintained their lineups, including Porsche, Jaguar, Envision, and Mahindra, while others have seen significant changes.
Notably, DS Penske and Maserati have swapped drivers, with Stoffel Vandoorne and Maximilian Günther trading places. Jean-Éric Vergne remains with DS Penske, while Maserati welcomes Jake Hughes, replacing Jehan Daruvala.
Hughes’ seat at McLaren will now be filled by Taylor Barnard, who stood in for the injured Sam Bird last year. Meanwhile, Norman Nato has joined Nissan after a year at Andretti, replacing Sacha Fenestraz, while Nico Müller moves to Andretti to partner Jake Dennis.
The grid is locked in 🔐
Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann complete our Season 11 line-up 🙌
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) December 2, 2024
Additionally, Sergio Sette Câmara, who was part of the Kiro setup, has now joined Nissan as their reserve driver. This move will see the Brazilian continue his involvement in the series, albeit in a supporting role.
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What to expect in terms of performance in Formula E Season 11
Porsche and Jaguar are once again expected to lead the pack, with strong performances likely from both their factory teams and customer outfits.
Kiro, despite Beckmann showing promise during testing, may face challenges due to their roots in the underperforming ERT and NIO teams.
Nissan are also expected to build on last season’s strong performance. With a veteran lineup now in place, they could aim for something truly significant.
Meanwhile, DS Penske, McLaren, and Maserati are poised to be strong contenders for individual race wins.
The calendar: A global showcase
For the first time since the pandemic, Formula E’s schedule spans two calendar years, offering a diverse mix of circuits.
The season opens on December 7, 2024, in São Paulo, followed by Mexico City on January 11, 2025. February brings a double-header in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, replacing Diriyah.
Season 11 is HERE 😍
Just over a week until we go green in São Paulo! pic.twitter.com/xmd1yLicd1
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 28, 2024
In April, the series heads to Miami’s Homestead Speedway for a revamped U.S. E-Prix. The calendar intensifies in May with back-to-back events in Monaco, Tokyo, and Shanghai. Jakarta returns as a single race, before the season concludes with double-headers in Berlin and London.
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