Jake Dennis on Gen3 Evo Racing in Formula E: "Doesn't matter if you lose 2 or 3 positions"

The revised Gen3 cars brought a number of innovations to the Formula E World Championship in the past season. In addition to some cosmetic innovations, such as a more stable front wing, the Gen3 Evo car also introduced softer Hankook tyres and all-wheel drive. Andretti driver Jake Dennis explains from his perspective how the upgrades have changed the races and how the drivers have come to terms with them.

The Gen3 Evo car brought a breath of fresh air to Formula E. However, some things also remained the same - such as the "Peloton races". Although Attack Mode made a bigger difference again with the new four-wheel drive, this type of racing was unavoidable at some events. Nevertheless, we fortunately saw fewer broken front wings during the races, not least due to the new, more stable wing design. "I think generally the way the races have been this year, when it's been an energy-sensitive race at this peloton racing, we're all, if anything, slightly more aggressive because we know that the wings can take it," said Dennis to FE Notebook.

"Have got used to the 'peloton racing'"

"But we've definitely still seen instances where they can break. But I think, honestly, we're so used to this peloton racing now that we're all just a bit better at it," continues the 2023 World Champion, taking a look back at the early days of the Gen3 era: "Whereas back in Season 9, you thought every overtake was the crucial one."

This approach seems to have changed with the Gen3 Evo. The all-wheel drive system, which is available to drivers at the start of races and during attack mode, plays a big part in this: "We (now) all understand, like saying ‘is this move 22 minutes into the race a key deciding to overtake? Probably not'.  We now know better which battles we should and should not enter into."

"The racing, the Attack Mode has definitely changed this year," continues the Briton. "You can go from the back to the front very quickly with the four-wheel drive, whereas 350 (kW) last year was probably just a straight negative. The Attack Mode loss was so big over what you gain. So, I think everyone's just sort of realised it's not the end of the world if you lose two, three positions because you're going to get it back in the 350 kW mode."

"Favour races like in Tokyo"

The Briton also talked about what kind of races he favours: "I think generally my favourite races are the ones like Tokyo, where you don't quite have enough energy to lead it the whole way, but you can definitely hold your own. So hopefully in the future they give us a little bit more of those races where they just give us that extra bit of energy, so we don't have so much of this peloton racing. It's also very frustrating when you qualify at the front and it's actually a bit of a negative, to be honest."

Before the Gen4 car, and with it a completely new set of regulations, arrives in Formula E at the end of 2026, we will once again have to make do with the Gen3 Evo for the coming season - albeit with a smaller starting field due to McLaren's withdrawal. However, Formula E is now taking a well-deserved break before everything starts all over again on 6 December in Sao Paulo. The Formula E World Championship will then start its twelfth season.