Formula E

Longer races possible: World Motor Sport Council fine-tunes rules for 2023 Formula E season

Tobias Wirtz
03/15/2023 · 09:23 am

The FIA has made a number of detailed changes to the Technical and Sporting Regulations of the Formula E World Championship. These are mainly formalities that are only likely to ever be noticed by spectators:inside in the absolute exception. However, there is also an exception: races can take longer.

In such technical sports as Formula E, there are regular adjustments to the rulebook. As it is a racing series run by the FIA, the adoption of rule changes is the responsibility of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), which meets four times a year. At its meeting on March 3, 2023, some adjustments to the Formula E regulations were also on the agenda.

These changes relate to both the Technical and Sporting Regulations. In particular, an adjustment to the Sporting Regulations could be interesting for fans: Thus, a race will no longer be automatically ended after 60 minutes, but only after 75 minutes. Background: At the season opener in Mexico, several safety car phases meant that the race distance was increased by five laps. As a result, the race length came very close to the maximum duration, at 58:25 minutes.

e-Formel.de gives you a comprehensive overview of the further adjustments.

Technical regulations

Article 3.2: Homologation of current pedal mappings & software

There are now two current pedal mappings: one relates (as before) to the power called up from the battery, the second to the torque delivered to the rear tires. Software adjustments now no longer have to be submitted seven days before an event (12:00 CET), but can still be submitted up to four days before the event. The software will then be checked during technical scrutineering prior to an event.

Article 4.4 Dimensions of the vehicle

The maximum allowed vehicle width has been increased from 1,700 mm to 1,707 mm. According to information from 'e-Formel.de', this is related to the emergency braking system, which slightly increases the width of the rear axle.

Article 5.1 Weight specifications

The minimum weight including the driver has been increased from 850 kg to 854 kg. Again, this is said to be due to the emergency braking system, which adds extra weight to the bolides.

Sporting regulations

Article 5: Championship competitions

The end of the race, which previously occurred automatically after 60 minutes, now occurs after 75 minutes.

Article 25: Tires & Tire Restrictions

It has been specified that the heating of tires is prohibited by both electrical and mechanical means.

Article 26: Weighing

The minimum weight including the driver has been increased from 850 kg to 854 kg, as already in the Technical Regulations.

Article 27: Basic requirements for vehicles & personnel

It has been added to the regulations that the use of the secondary braking system is only allowed in case of emergency. Activation of the system will be reported to the race stewards and may be penalized by disqualification of the driver

Article 32: Free practice

The obligation to use drivers without Formula E experience in free practice has been changed from "two free practices" to "one rookie practice". This will take place during the Rome E-Prix this season, as we reported several weeks ago.

Article 36: Starting Procedures

It was specified that in the dummy grid, where the cars line up before the race, the battery, front engine and rear engine of the cars are now allowed to be cooled.

Article 37: Racing

The restriction that the battery of the vehicles in the dummy grid must be at least 97 percent charged has been removed.

Article 43: Parc Ferme

In Parc Ferme, instead of one/one, two mechanic:s are now allowed per vehicle, who are allowed to attach devices to retrieve data on the vehicle or cooling devices.