Detailed analysis: An overview of all changes to the Formula E sporting regulations ahead of the Gen4 debut

Following the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 23 June, the FIA has published the full Sporting Regulations for the 2026/27 Formula E season. In addition to what was announced immediately after the meeting, there are a number of further rule changes for the first Gen4 season in Formula E. e-Formula.news has taken a close look at all the changes and provides you with a comprehensive overview ahead of Season 13.

For the first time, the FIA has published the Formula E regulations entirely in English. Previously, the regulations were always bilingual, with French included as well. Furthermore, in many instances where the driver was referred to using masculine pronouns, a gender-neutral pronoun is now used instead. Instead of "timing screens", the term "Official Messaging System" is now used.

Article 1: Regulations

The note stating that, in case of doubt, the English version of the regulations shall prevail has been removed. The same applies to the following articles – "General Undertaking", "General Conditions" and "Licences" – which have been moved out of the Sporting Regulations.

Article 2: Championship Competitions

The definition of the duration of an event has been amended. It now begins as soon as the teams first gain access to the circuit in accordance with the official timetable, rather than only at the scheduled start of the technical and sporting checks.

The maximum number of races per season has been increased from 18 to 22, whilst the maximum number of events has been set at 16. A minimum of six events and a minimum of six races are now required. Previously, only the minimum number of six races was expressly stipulated.

If an event consists of a single race, it must be spread over two days. On the first day, a shakedown session and a free practice session will take place; on the second day, a further free practice session, qualifying and the race.

If an event consists of two races, it must be spread over three days. On the first day, only a shakedown session takes place; on the second day, a free practice session, qualifying and a race; and on the third day, a free practice session, qualifying and a race.

If the scheduled distance, including the number of additional laps, is not completed in time, a time limit of 45 minutes applies to performance races and 75 minutes to efficiency races. The race will then generally be brought to a close at the end of the following lap, provided this does not result in the specified number of laps being exceeded. In the event of an interruption, the maximum total duration may be extended to 75 minutes plus one lap for performance races or three hours plus one lap for efficiency races.

Article 3: Formula E World Championship

The new points for qualifying are not included in the manufacturers’ championship standings. Bonus points for pole position and the fastest race lap amongst the top 10 were already excluded previously. In future, all newly introduced qualifying points will also be excluded from the manufacturers’ championship.

Every driver who progresses to the duels receives one point. In addition, every winner of a duel receives one point, and the winner of the final duel receives an additional bonus point.

Should no duels take place, the drivers who would have progressed to the duel phase will still each receive one point. No points are awarded if qualifying cannot take place or if only a group qualifying session was held.

The following articles - "Promoter", "Organisation of Competitions", "Insurance" and "Competitors' Applications" - have been moved out of the regulations.

Article 7: Passes

It has been added here that all staff must wear their pass at all times in such a way that it is visible and its colour is clearly recognisable.

Article 9: Incidents

It has been clarified here that a driver must serve a time penalty in front of his team’s garage. Previously, the text read "his position", which is strictly speaking incorrect, as drivers do not have a position in the pit lane.

The clause stating that a failure to serve time penalties correctly during a pit stop may result in disqualification has been removed. Instead, the rule now includes the provision previously set out in the "Penalties" article, stating that a driver will receive a grid penalty of ten places after three reprimands, provided that at least two of these reprimands were issued for a driving offence.

The following articles, "Protests", "Sanctions" and "Changes of Driver", have also been removed from the regulations.

Article 10: Car livery

The race numbers on the cars will be reduced in size. Instead of a minimum of 14.5 cm, they must now be at least 12 cm in size.

Article 12: Track testing

The maximum number of test days per team is limited to eight for the period from October 2026 to September 2027, of which a maximum of six may be official test days (for example, pre-season testing and rookie testing). In addition, six promotional events per team are permitted, of which a maximum of three may take place at a race circuit.

The tyre allocation will now be specified per car rather than per team: for each official test day, each car will receive two sets of all-weather tyres and one set of wet tyres. On the up to two official test days reserved exclusively for rookies, each driver will also have one used set of all-weather tyres at their disposal. In the current season, a maximum of four new sets of all-weather tyres per team per day are permitted.

Private test sessions may be conducted with one or two cars. Private testing may not take place at circuits scheduled to host official Formula E sessions before the relevant Formula E event has been held there. A maximum of twelve hours of actual track time is permitted per test day within a maximum 13-hour time window, starting from a time previously agreed with the FIA. Driving is generally only permitted between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm local time.

Two sets of all-weather tyres are provided per day and per car. In addition, each car receives one set of wet tyres for the entire private test programme. All data must be transmitted via the FIA logger; furthermore, the teams must subsequently upload the battery management system data to the battery supplier.

At promotional events, a maximum of 40 kWh of energy may be used, and power is limited to 350 kW. For the Gen3 Evo, the maximum power was 110 kW and the energy limit was 25 kWh.

The FIA reserves the right to allocate additional test days or promotional events in agreement with all registered teams.

Article 13: Pit entry, pit lane and pit exit

Only electric wheel guns are now permitted here. In the past, teams also used wheel guns powered by compressed air.

During the Pit Boost, the mechanic responsible for releasing the driver must now be positioned outside the Pit Boost markings on the garage side. Previously, they were only required to be on this side of the car.

The clause prohibiting the use of all-wheel drive in the pit lane has been removed and replaced with a ban on 600 kW mode. As is well known, the Gen4 cars have permanent all-wheel drive.

Article 14: Scrutineering and administrative checks

A new provision has been added to this article stating that cars which have passed technical scrutineering may no longer leave the circuit area for the remainder of the competition. This provision previously appeared in identical form under the section "Spare cars, motors, batteries and gearboxes".

Article 15: Use of tyres and tyre limitation during the competition

Tyres are now identified by an RFID chip or a barcode, the specifications of which are defined in the regulations (barcode type 39 or 128 with eight digits, beginning with an 8).

Teams may only mark the tyres with the tyre set number, the car’s race number and the tyre’s position.

In a ‘single-header’, a maximum of two sets of all-weather tyres and one set of wet tyres may be used. In a "double-header", the limit is three sets of all-weather tyres and one set of wet tyres. Should there have been a session on the first day of racing that was declared "wet" , teams may swap their set of wet tyres for a fresh set after the first race.

Wet tyres may only be used if the Race Director declared the session is under "wet track" conditions. In this case, it is up to the teams to choose between wet tyres and all-weather tyres. It is forbidden to drive with wet and all-weather tyres at the same time, for example wet tyres on the front axle and all-weather tyres on the rear axle.

With the approval of the race stewards, in the event of a puncture, each car is allowed two front and two rear all-weather ‘joker’ tyres, as well as two front and two rear rain ‘joker’ tyres.

Article 17: General car and personnel requirements

The number of team members permitted to be present at a competition has been increased from 27 to 29, of whom 20 may work on the car (previously: 18).

Article 18: Spare cars, motors, batteries, gearboxes

Spare parts are now allocated per team rather than per driver. Each team may use two spare units of each component per season: the MGU, gearbox, motor control unit (MCU) and front motor (FPK).

Furthermore, each driver may not use more than four sets of brake discs (front and rear), eight sets of brake pads (front and rear) and six front dampers and six rear dampers in a season.

Article 21: Practice sessions

In the event of an interruption, the cars must now return to the pit lane and proceed immediately into their garage.

Article 22: Free practice sessions

The shakedown now lasts only ten minutes instead of 15; furthermore, power is limited to 350 kW (previously: 110 kW).

The duration of Free Practice increases from 40 to 45 minutes. However, during the first 30 minutes, a maximum of 450 kW may be used. Teams may decide for themselves whether to run the package with high or low downforce.

Article 23: Qualifying practice sessions

The FIA will specify, at least three weeks before the event, which aerodynamic configuration must be used in qualifying. During the group stage, a maximum power output of 600 kW is available – unlike with the Gen3 car, full power is now available here.

Article 26: Starting procedure

A maximum of 450 kW may be used whilst proceeding to the starting grid. The pit lane will now be closed 35 minutes, rather than 30 minutes, before the cars leave the dummy grid for their starting positions.

The provision stating that the use of all-wheel drive is prohibited during a rolling start behind the safety car has been removed. Here, only the use of the 600 kW mode is not permitted.

Article 27: The race

For races too, the FIA will specify which aerodynamic configuration must be used at least three weeks before the event.

Power is limited to 450 kW; 600 kW may be used in Attack Mode. 700 kW of energy recovery is permitted, with 350 kW each on the front and rear axles.

For races featuring Pit Boost, the FIA publishes a table in advance showing the possible amounts of energy that may be recharged. Each energy level is linked to a specific minimum pit-stop duration. The number of available options is determined by the FIA. Before entering the pit lane, the driver must select on the steering wheel how much energy they wish to recharge. Once the charger is connected, this selection cannot be changed.

If the usable energy is exhausted, power must be reduced to 0 kW. In Pit Boost races, the total amount of available energy therefore depends on the option selected by the driver during the pit stop.

Article 31: Resuming a race

In the case of a rolling start behind the safety car, it is no longer the use of all-wheel drive that is prohibited, but rather the use of the 600 kW mode.