Formula E champion Vergne after Citroen Gen4 test: "All of a sudden, I look like a big star"

With 600 kW, permanent four-wheel drive and significantly more downforce, Formula E will enter a new era next season. Stellantis is already working intensively on its Gen4 car, which will compete under the Citroen and Opel brands. During a private Gen4 test conducted by the manufacturer, Citroen Racing driver Jean-Eric Vergne spoke about his first impressions, the major technical challenge and the future direction of the championship.

"It’s a great feeling," Vergne says of his first kilometres in the new car. The acceleration in particular left a strong impression on him: "Having four-wheel drive and 600 kW is pretty impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a car that accelerates that much."

The technological leap is not only evident under acceleration. "The braking is also very efficient. Having the differentials controlled at both the front and the rear helps a lot," explains the two-time Formula E champion. His initial verdict is correspondingly clear: "Overall, I’d say it’s a good car. It’s definitely a massive step up compared to the current car."

Vergne: "Gen4 is not going to be driven the same way as Gen3"

For the drivers, however, the new car does not simply mean more performance. They will also have to adapt to fundamentally different handling characteristics. "Every car has its own specificities, and every car needs to be driven in a certain way," says Vergne. "Some drivers are very strong in Gen3 but were not very strong in Gen2, simply because one car fits their driving style a little better than the other."

Gen4 will be no different: "Gen4 is not going to be driven the same way as Gen3." That makes its development an extensive task for both drivers and engineers. "You have to go through every detail to understand it," Vergne explains. "If there is one thing you get wrong in the settings, the systems, the set-up or the tyre preparation, you can easily be one second off."

The decisive factor will therefore not only be the quality of the individual engineers, but above all how well they work together. "A very strong team next year will be one where the engineers are each specialised in a particular area of the car, communicate very well and create a perfect balance between all the systems and the car set-up."

The driver must also understand exactly what the car is giving them at all times. "The amount of work required to be the fastest team will, I think, be greater than in the past. There are so many things you can set up incorrectly on that car. It is going to be extremely important to be very well prepared."

2 aero packages create significant differences

An additional challenge comes from the Gen4 car’s two different aerodynamic configurations. When asked by e-Formula.news, Vergne confirms that the difference is clearly noticeable from the cockpit. He does not want to provide any specific information about the required set-up changes. With a smile, the Frenchman initially jokes that it takes five hours to make the switch and that the car has to be changed "from A to Z".

Vergne is more forthcoming when discussing the car’s behaviour: "There is a good difference. I don’t know how many seconds it is, but you can really feel it, mainly in high-speed corners and under braking. Braking is a big difference."

In the Citroen driver’s view, the new car should represent a major step forward not only from a sporting perspective, but also in terms of fan interest. "One hundred per cent," Vergne replies when asked whether Gen4 could increase the popularity of the championship.

He points to the reactions on social media as an example. "Look at any Formula E driver who posts a picture of their car from a race, and then compare it with a picture of the Gen4 car or the Citroen Gen4 with that livery. All of a sudden, it looks like I’m a big star. When I post pictures of the Gen3, it looks like I’m a nobody."

For Vergne, this enthusiasm is not merely part of a marketing campaign. "There are things you can’t fake in life. At the end of the day, it is also a marketing product, but I think the product is amazing." Nor do the drivers have to pretend that they like the car: "You can see how sincere we are when we talk about that car. I’ve never been like this with the Gen3."

More grip, proper wet tyres & slicks in the long term?

Vergne’s first impression of the new Bridgestone tyres is also broadly positive. The Frenchman particularly welcomes the introduction of a dedicated wet tyre: "I love the fact that we now have proper wet tyres, because so far we haven’t been able to race in the wet with the Hankooks."

According to Vergne, the new tyres also provide more grip than their predecessors. Even so, he is not entirely satisfied. "As a driver, I wish we had made an even bigger step, because the fact that the car is heavier counterbalances some of the extra grip we have."

Vergne is therefore hoping for further development during the Gen4 era. "I really hope that after the first season we will see some improvements to the tyres. Eventually, you want to end up with proper slick tyres."

Tyre wear has not caused him any major concerns so far. "It’s okay. They are quite sensitive to thermal degradation, but otherwise they are good," Vergne explains. Bridgestone, however, knows how to develop this kind of tyre: "They know how to do that. They have very good people doing the testing."

"I would choose the faster car 100 per cent of the time"

The increase in performance will inevitably also affect the range of circuits Formula E can visit. Vergne has long been an advocate of street tracks and continues to regard racing in the heart of major cities as an important part of the championship’s identity.

"I’ve always been a big fan of going into the heart of the cities because I feel that is the DNA of Formula E," he says. Many of the championship’s former circuits have simply become too small for the new cars. "When I look back at the Gen1 and Gen2 calendars, we cannot return to many of those tracks now. The car is a proper beast: it is wider, longer, much faster and heavier."

When faced with a choice between traditional, tight street circuits and a higher-performance car, Vergne’s decision is clear: "I would choose the faster car 100 per cent of the time."

The fact that Formula E is now competing more frequently on larger permanent circuits or more expansive layouts is therefore a logical development. Vergne does not want the championship to abandon street racing altogether, however. "I think it’s good that we keep some of the city tracks. I would love to see more city tracks, but they need to be big enough." He points to Formula 1 venues such as Baku and Singapore as examples. "Big street tracks like those would be nice. But some of the tracks we raced on in the past are simply too small for this car."

Meanwhile, developing the Gen4 car in parallel with the current season is not causing Vergne any major personal difficulties. He explains why with a touch of humour: "Personally, it’s not that difficult because my championship is clearly not alive this year. So, in my mind, I’m happier to be here than I was in Shanghai."