Firstly, the positives. It's great to see so many manufacturers making very serious efforts in this series, and as well as the high calibre of team the grid is phenomenally good - probably the...
Firstly, the positives. It's great to see so many manufacturers making very serious efforts in this series, and as well as the high calibre of team the grid is phenomenally good - probably the second best of any championship in the world after F1. The cars can follow each other really well; it was almost like watching GT3 racing at times. As has been evidenced to some extent in IndyCar, moving towards underfloor downforce generation is a big boon for racing. In general, the racing quality was excellent - we saw some superb performance driving and some really exciting, daring maneuvers. The racing is much more credible without the drivers having to pit and change cars, and it was a relief to see that energy saving did not impact the race to any great extent.
Now, the shortcomings. The cars are still too slow in the corners for a series that aims to be among the most prestigious in the world, and they do not do justice to the quality of the men and women who pilot them. I would like to see a move away from road tyres to racing slicks, which would surely improve the look and performance of the cars. I don't see the need for Attack Mode and am strongly against the adoption of 'game mechanics' into serious motor-racing. FanBoost remains a travesty for the credibility and prestige of the series and I hope it dies in seasons to come. It was a little disappointing to see such a bland and dour range of liveries, especially when one considers the fantastic colour and spectacle that is the modern F1 grid. I still can't stand the look of Formula E street circuits, with their sky high billboards and utter lack of character. I long for the day when Formula E cars are unleashed on a proper permanent racetrack. Because of their slow speed, Formula E cars could feasibly race at classic tracks like Brands Hatch and Zandvoort, and it's a travesty that they aren't doing so. To see a grid of single seaters featuring drivers of the quality of Vandoorne, Lotterer, Buemi, Massa, and Di Grassi attacking Paddock Hill Bend would be a racing spectacle like few others. I am also disappointed to learn of the rule by which the leading car can 'become the safety car' at the end of an FCY period, at the discretion of the race director. It seems evident to me that this is ploy to allow dull races to be artificially livened up, which is not something I want to see in an international racing series. As a final complaint, the commentary and on-screen graphics were quite poor at times, although I am willing to forgive this for the first event of the season.
Now into its fifth season, Formula E has a youthful vigor and energy to it which plays an important part in driving its growth, but perhaps soon will come the time for maturity and the loosening of some of the shackles of juvenility which still prevent many from taking the category seriously. In general, though, this was a very respectable motorrace, and I look forward to the rest of the championship
I was interested to see the first race from a strategic approach -- particularly as Stoffel Vandoorne had been one of the faster drivers in the new Formula E car over one lap, but had a very...
I was interested to see the first race from a strategic approach -- particularly as Stoffel Vandoorne had been one of the faster drivers in the new Formula E car over one lap, but had a very underwhelming race (or a "whelming" race, for those of us familiar with how Formula 1 had gone for Stoffel). The Formula E cars certainly seem to have particulars all of their own, even without the odd car switching of previous seasons.
Firstly, the positives. It's great to see so many manufacturers making very serious efforts in this series, and as well as the high calibre of team the grid is phenomenally good - probably the second best of any championship in the world after F1. The cars can follow each other really well; it was almost like watching GT3 racing at times. As has been evidenced to some extent in IndyCar, moving towards underfloor downforce generation is a big boon for racing. In general, the racing quality was excellent - we saw some superb performance driving and some really exciting, daring maneuvers. The racing is much more credible without the drivers having to pit and change cars, and it was a relief to see that energy saving did not impact the race to any great extent.
Now, the shortcomings. The cars are still too slow in the corners for a series that aims to be among the most prestigious in the world, and they do not do justice to the quality of the men and women who pilot them. I would like to see a move away from road tyres to racing slicks, which would surely improve the look and performance of the cars. I don't see the need for Attack Mode and am strongly against the adoption of 'game mechanics' into serious motor-racing. FanBoost remains a travesty for the credibility and prestige of the series and I hope it dies in seasons to come. It was a little disappointing to see such a bland and dour range of liveries, especially when one considers the fantastic colour and spectacle that is the modern F1 grid. I still can't stand the look of Formula E street circuits, with their sky high billboards and utter lack of character. I long for the day when Formula E cars are unleashed on a proper permanent racetrack. Because of their slow speed, Formula E cars could feasibly race at classic tracks like Brands Hatch and Zandvoort, and it's a travesty that they aren't doing so. To see a grid of single seaters featuring drivers of the quality of Vandoorne, Lotterer, Buemi, Massa, and Di Grassi attacking Paddock Hill Bend would be a racing spectacle like few others. I am also disappointed to learn of the rule by which the leading car can 'become the safety car' at the end of an FCY period, at the discretion of the race director. It seems evident to me that this is ploy to allow dull races to be artificially livened up, which is not something I want to see in an international racing series. As a final complaint, the commentary and on-screen graphics were quite poor at times, although I am willing to forgive this for the first event of the season.
Now into its fifth season, Formula E has a youthful vigor and energy to it which plays an important part in driving its growth, but perhaps soon will come the time for maturity and the loosening of some of the shackles of juvenility which still prevent many from taking the category seriously. In general, though, this was a very respectable motorrace, and I look forward to the rest of the championship
I was interested to see the first race from a strategic approach -- particularly as Stoffel Vandoorne had been one of the faster drivers in the new Formula E car over one lap, but had a very underwhelming race (or a "whelming" race, for those of us familiar with how Formula 1 had gone for Stoffel). The Formula E cars certainly seem to have particulars all of their own, even without the odd car switching of previous seasons.