Formula E's half-indoor, half-outdoor London race to get one final run-out

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Formula E have released their calendar for the 2026 season and the flagship race the ExCeL Centre in east London has been included, but is expected to be the final time it is used
Formula E's flagship season finale in London will get one final run-out in 2026.
The event at the ExCeL Centre in the east London docklands will host the final two rounds of the 2025/26 season, as confirmed by the calendar release on Tuesday.
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But it is expected to be the final time that Formula E race on the unique half-indoor, half-outdoor circuit, as car capabilities are set to outgrow the venue.
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FE signed a deal to race at the ExCeL until the end of the Gen3Evo era, which includes this season and next.
However, the Gen4 car is expected to be even faster and even more powerful than before, meaning the tight circuit is unlikely to be sufficient.
The current Formula E car gets from 0-60mph in just 1.8 seconds - quicker than an F1 car. The indoor land speed world record was broken by Formula E at the London race weekend in 2023, when British driver Jake Hughes hit 135.9mph in a specially-adapted car.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror earlier this season, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds said: "The ExCeL are amazing people to work with, and it's a great venue. You've got 50,000 people over the weekend, the inside-outside is cool, the activations are really good.
"But clearly, we need a home in the UK for Gen4 onwards. I think there are only two logical routes to that.
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"One is you find an alternative in London, an alternative location. There are other big areas of London that are going through regeneration that could be great for a motor racing circuit.
"Or we find a permanent racing circuit that delivers against our objectives in the UK. We haven't made that decision yet. All bets are on in that respect."
A new race in Madrid at the Jarama circuit has been added to the calendar for next season. Formula E have long wanted to race in the Spanish capital, with it being the hometown of the series' founders.
Formula E calendar 2025/26
Round 1: Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 6
Round 2: Mexico City, Mexico, January 10
Round 3: Miami, Florida, USA, January 31
Rounds 4&5: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 13-14 February
Round 6: Madrid, Spain, March 21
Rounds 7&8: Berlin, Germany, 2-3 May
Round 9&10: Monte Carlo, Monaco, 16-17 May
Round 11: TBC, May 30
Round 12: TBC, June 20
Rounds 13&14: Shanghai, China, 4-5 July
Rounds 15&16: Tokyo, Japan, 25-26 July
Rounds 17&18: London, United Kingdom, 15-16 August