Why F1 record-breaker has made Formula E a must watch

Formula E has undergone a revolutionary change with the introduction of the new Gen3 EVO – the fastest accelerating FIA single-seater. 

The statistics behind the new car have been covered and discussed to the high heavens, but there is a very good reason for that, it is remarkable.

0-60 mph in 1.82s is staggering, and enough to even stun the FE drivers. It is a stat which puts FE in its own league above F1 when it comes to acceleration, with the pinnacle of motorsport achieving the same speed in 2.6s in the current regulations. 

That alone, gains FE attention and interest it never had before.

The recent season-opener in São Paulo felt like a small make-or-break moment for the series, which is in its eleventh campaign. 

Being on the same weekend as the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi meant an exciting spectacle was required for any eyeballs, and that is exactly what FE put on.

FE’s first race with the new car was record-breaking and history-making, with Mitch Evans having become the first driver to win from last on the grid. Meanwhile, McLaren rookie Taylor Barnard became the championship’s youngest-ever podium finisher at just 20 years old. 

It also featured one of the biggest crashes in its history, involving reigning world champion and former F1 driver Pascal Wehrlein. 

So, what is it about FE’s new car which has made it a must watch?

The record-breaking Gen3 EVO

First of all, a few things about the new car. It is supposed to be an evolution of the original Gen3, which was used the last two seasons. 

However, it is more of a revolution, with many drivers and teams describing it as a new generation of car, rather than an evolution. 

The shining star is the acceleration, with the 0-60mph in 1.82s being capable thanks to all-wheel drive, which in itself is impressive and ground-breaking for a single-seater race car.

The race starts in São Paulo were something to behold, with the rapid increase of speed having been visible on camera. Just visibly, the new cars look significantly quicker, an initial huge bonus for FE. 

Other features of the new car include a redesigned body kit, which has given the Gen3 EVO a more aggressive and exciting look. The top speed remains 200 mph; however, the new body kit has also resulted in the Gen3 EVO being more aerodynamic. 

Hankook has also designed softer all-weather tyres, which when combined with the other Gen3 EVO features has led to a remarkable improvement in lap time. Just in São Paulo, Wehrlein’s pole position time was 2.9s quicker than the pole time from last season with the standard Gen3.

The competition

What was noticeable in the São Paulo season-opener, was how competitive almost every team was. Whilst some clearly had a slight edge, all 11 teams had at least one car in the points at some stage during the race.

Attack Mode triggering all-wheel drive has also made the races much more strategic, with the temporary boost finally being something the drivers want to use again, rather than get rid of. 

What is exciting, is that those who struggled in the past two seasons have made genuine gains, most notably, Mahindra and Cupra Kiro.

Qualifying also remains extremely close, with some duels in São Paulo having been separated by just thousandths of a second.

Growing fan interest

Ultimately, whilst some continue to disapprove FE, the new cars have caught a lot of attention. São Paulo sold double the number of tickets than it did in Season 10, according to two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi – who waved the chequered flag and is a known admirer of the series.

Whilst electric cars are not everyone’s cup of tea, many who had previously expressed their non-interest in the category, enjoyed São Paulo. 

It is remarkable what something has simple as a faster, more aerodynamic car can do. Motorsport fans enjoy watching fast race cars, and that is something FE certainly now has. 

With Gen4 –set to be introduced in late 2026 – expected to be similar if not slightly faster than Formula 2, the series is on a certain upward trajectory. 

RacingNews365 also understands that São Paulo was a big hit in the United Kingdom on ITV, who are broadcasting all 16 races live for free on its streaming platform ITVX. To conclude, São Paulo was a big success, with a lot of that being down to the new cars. 

FE now has three races – one in Mexico City and two in Jeddah – before F1 resumes, a time when motorsport fans will be looking for something to watch. 

The hope will be that some will give FE a second chance, putting pressure on the series to deliver excitement.