Formula E, FIA poised for long-term contract extension
Photo:
Paulo Maria / AFP
Formula E is poised to extend an exclusive deal with motorsport's world governing body that will ensure it remains the only all-electric racing series sanctioned by the FIA for decades to come.
Majority owned since last year by telecoms company Liberty Global, Formula E began in 2014 with a 25-year licence.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem let slip to reporters during last weekend's British Formula One Grand Prix that an extension to the Formula E contract was done and "would come up soon".
Before the season's penultimate round in Berlin, Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds told
Reuters
on Friday there was nothing official, but to expect various announcements at the London season-ender this month.
Formula One will start a new engine era next year, with a 50/50 split between combustion and electric, but Ben Sulayem has said the Liberty Media-owned sport could go back to noisy V8 engines by 2029.
"If they [F1] choose to keep using it [the 2026 engine], we'll choose to keep talking about the fact that they like the [electric] technology so much, they integrate it into their race cars," Dodds said.
"If they choose to go back to V8s, then we would absolutely leverage the fact that we would then be the only electric championship and everything that that means."
Formula E will likely be reduced from 11 to 10 teams next season, after the withdrawal of Formula One champions McLaren to focus on endurance racing.
McLaren had sought a new owner for the team, but Dodds said the timeframe was too tight for interested parties and it would revert to Formula E, barring a late twist.
"As it stand, unless something changes - and I never say never in Formula E or motorsport - their last race would be London," he added.
"The team slot would vacate, which means the licence would revert to us, and then we have a lot of other interest in joining the championship.
"The chance of somebody joining for one year of Gen3 is unlikely, but the chance of somebody coming in and starting to develop with a future coming in for Gen4 is much more likely."
Formula E will be in the last year of its Gen3 era next season, with the more powerful and faster Gen4 car then coming in for 2026/27.
Nissan's British driver Oliver Rowland can clinch the 2024/25 championship in the Berlin doubleheader this weekend and would be the series' 10th different champion in 11 seasons.
New Zealand's Nick Cassidy is currently eighth in the championship standings, while fellow Kiwi Mitch Evans is 18th. Both drivers are in the Jaguar TCS Racing Team.
- Reuters
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