„Never imagined dynamics would change like this“ – Is Formula E’s new all-wheel-drive attack mode too intense?
By Timo Pape, December 8, 2024, 4:38 PM
Mitch Evans admitted, „It opened our eyes to how far we could advance,“ after he clinched victory at the season opener in Sao Paulo, starting from the very last position on the grid—a feat never before seen in Formula E! A key factor in his triumph was the clever use of Attack Mode, which has become a game-changer due to the introduction of new all-wheel-drive technology. Has Formula E made a strategic misstep?
Over the last two years, the Attack Mode has almost become irrelevant. Drivers and teams often referred to it as an „annoying obligation“ because the Gen3 car was unable to translate the additional 50 kW power into real performance on the track. As a result, the gap between the race mode at 300 kW and the Attack Mode at 350 kW was barely noticeable.
The Formula E series has upgraded its technology with the introduction of the new Gen3-Evo car. With the addition of all-wheel drive in Attack Mode and softer Hankook tires that provide better grip, the distinction in performance is once more evident—and significantly so! „Even if you’re a few seconds behind, you can make up for it in just three or four turns. That’s how substantial the speed advantage is!“ explains Antonio Felix da Costa.
The driver of the Porsche, who finished second in the Sao Paulo E-Prix, shared his viewpoint: „We consistently remained in the top four, but when the first Attack Mode phase started, I think I dropped out of the top ten because others in Attack Mode simply overtook me. I need to analyze this in more detail now.“
Evans: „No Previous Experience with Such a Contrast“
Even race winner Evans acknowledges: „None of us had any prior experience with such a contrast in the race. We first had to learn how to handle this new Attack Mode. However, the team guided me well through it. It was an eye-opener for us, seeing how far we could advance with it.“
The debut of the all-wheel drive GEN3 Evo in ATTACK MODE was a thrilling success! Nick made an incredible move from 8th place to the lead in under two laps. What an impressive performance! #SãoPauloEPrix ?? pic.twitter.com/YQuAQHLoZv — Jaguar TCS Racing (@JaguarRacing) December 8, 2024
Even though Porsche had prepared for this exact scenario, Felix da Costa admits, „We had to do a lot of improvising and adapting.“ Reflecting on his first race with all-wheel drive, he notes, „You have to be smart about how you use it and make sure you don’t get stuck behind someone you aren’t directly competing against. Patience is key: the moment will come when you can activate it yourself.“
Hui: „Crucial in Every Race This Season“
Dan Ticktum acknowledges: „With the all-wheel drive, the Attack Mode has become extremely powerful.“ Alex Hui, his team principal at Cupra Kiro, elaborates: „The new all-wheel drive in Formula E has completely transformed how the Attack Mode is used.“
Hui is confident that the introduction of Hankook’s new softer tires over the weekend has added an extra strategic layer, which will be crucial in every race this season.
Opinion by Timo Pape: Better to be on the offensive than to let others pass
„I anticipated that the dynamics of the race would shift, but I never imagined they would change to such an extent,“ says Felix da Costa. He is not alone in this sentiment. In recent months, there has been much discussion about the new Pit-Boost and the potential impact of fast-charging pit stops on the races. However, few have talked about the Attack-Mode, and certainly not with any concern.
Following the Sao Paulo E-Prix, there is a growing concern about whether the new Attack Mode might be overly powerful. Indeed, it became even more challenging for fans to discern which drivers were genuinely vying for victory. This issue of clarity had already been a significant criticism during the initial two years of the Gen3 series, often referred to in discussions about the „slipstream battles.“ Interestingly, the slipstream effect did not play a role on Saturday, despite the Sao Paulo circuit, with its long straights, being an ideal setting for it.
The nature of the track made it relatively easy for drivers in Attack Mode to execute overtakes. However, upcoming races will feature much tighter circuits, such as the next event in Mexico, where overtaking might prove challenging even with all-wheel drive. In those instances, the drivers‘ overtaking skills could become even more crucial.
It’s also true that the Attack Mode now truly lives up to its name. It’s meant for offensive maneuvers and actually reminded me of the iconic star in Mario Kart, especially since the car’s LEDs now flash pink and light blue when activated. Perhaps reducing the contrast a bit might provide clearer visibility. However, these subtle details are difficult to manage when considering the long-term development of tires.
A potential short-term solution might involve boosting performance in race mode to reduce the gap compared to all-wheel drive systems, though this could lead to other consequences. However, is this something anyone wants? Let’s first observe how significant the difference is on other tracks. I’m trying to view the situation like pit stops in Formula 1, where shifts in the lineup also occur. Yet, dedicated fans can still keep track of who is genuinely competing for the win.
In Formula E, each driver is allowed two activations during a much shorter race. Is it possible to manage this potential chaos to some extent? One option might be to implement fixed windows for activating the Attack Mode, which would require all drivers to activate within those periods. It is also expected that teams will start saving their second Attack Mode activation until the end of the race, as demonstrated by Jaguar and McLaren on Saturday. However, if all drivers have the same amount of power again, their ability to launch attacks would be limited.
The revamped Attack Mode has introduced a new layer of strategy to Formula E that many have underestimated. It has led to numerous overtaking maneuvers, which I personally preferred over the „waving by“ style of the past two seasons, as these moves originated from the attacker. In that sense, I’m feeling optimistic and hopeful that the chaos in upcoming races will be somewhat reduced. The only remaining question is how the powerful Attack Mode will work in conjunction with the Pit-Boost, which will be implemented starting with the Jeddah E-Prix…
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1 Comment
Luca · December 8, 2024
The attack mode is finally useful again and not just an obligation.
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