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Formula 1 vs Formula E: differences Explained – Is the future of motorsport all electric?

Both Formula 1 and Formula E cars give the world the latest technology and highly efficient powertrains. Future cars will depend on the technology used in these cars.

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Venkatakrishnan
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Formula E vs Formula 1

(Source: OG)

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Formula 1 is the biggest sport in car racing and it is often called the ‘Pinnacle’. Many big car companies around the world want to be in Formula 1 and show their company's potential and capabilities to the world. It is the home for all kinds of innovations and cutting-edge technologies we see in Modern cars.

But what’s the future of the sport? The future is all electric and FIA is pushing the boundaries to go full electric by 2030. But before all that, the FIA wants to see how it will be when racing with electric cars. So they introduced the Formula E tournament, which is an all-electric car racing tournament.

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Formula 1 vs E: Which car is the Fastest?

The Formula 1 cars are the fastest ones and they can reach up to a top speed of around 397 KMPH. At the same time, Formula E cars reach up to a top speed of 320KMPH. F1 cars can go 0-100 in 2.6 seconds, while Formula E cars will take 2.8 seconds to reach that speed.

The biggest reason for the Formula 1 cars to be fastest is their powerful hybrid engines. They produce over 1000 horsepower when compared with 350 HP in Formula E cars. But with the new generation of Gen 3 EVO cars, Formula E can come a little bit closer to Formula 1 cars. The new advanced technology will come for the 2024/2025 season and will help Formula E cars reach a 0-100 speed in just 1.82 seconds. It will surpass Formula 1 car acceleration speed and will set a new benchmark in Motorsport. 

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Formula 1 vs E: Power output

The Formula 1 car holds the power advantage over Formula E cars as their well-refined Hybrid engines along with the electric motors produce 1000HP compared with the 402HP which the Formula E cars produce at maximum during Attack Mode.

The reason for the F1 car's domination is they use both ICE engines and electric energy while Formula E cars solely depend on electric power from their battery. But still, Formula E gives cutting-edge technology in Electric car development which will be seen on future roads.

Also Read: ‘The Flying Dutchman’: How Max Verstappen Defied the Odds to Win Brazil GP - Explained

Aerodynamics capabilities

The faster lap times and high corner speed in Formula 1 cars are because they have more downforce than Formula E cars. Formula E cars, on the other hand, have a simple design and that's why they are very slow in corners.

Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is the most important part when it comes to car design. The front and rear wings, floor structure, and bodywork all play a crucial role in a car's performance on the track. F1 cars have a DRS (Drag reduction system) in straights that gives them a speed advantage compared with Formula E  cars.

Downforce 

Downforce is 3 to 4 times higher than a car's actual weight when a car reaches its top speed so it needs the best Aero design for great control and handling. So Aero engineers work hard to make a Formula 1 car go faster and easier to handle at high speeds.

Chassis, Steering Wheelm and Breaking System

Other big elements that give the F1 cars an advantage are the Chassis, which manages good airflow under the body, Steering wheels which give drivers options to control cars' aerodynamic abilities mid-race, the Braking system which allows them to brake harder in corners than Formula E cars.

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Formula 1 vs E: Tracks

The tracks we see in Formula 1 are mostly permanent and bigger with an average distance of 5 Kilometers. But Formula E tracks are mostly temporary tracks that happen in city centres with an average distance of 2.5 kilometres.

But Formula 1 cars can also perform in Street circuits, which gives them a technical challenge and mixed top speeds. Circuits like Monaco, Singapore, Las Vegas, and Saudi Arabia are street circuits that also suit Formula 1 cars. Tracks like Austria, Belgium, and Silverstone, COTA are very big and don't suit Formula E cars. Pit stops are very important in Formula 1 while, Formula E doesn’t care about that much. 

The Technology both cars provide

Formula 1 cars provide more fuel-efficient and less emission V6 Hybrid engines. The car also has an ERS (Energy recovery system), which recharges the battery and can be used again. Both F1 and Formula E cars use lightweight materials, optimised power technology, energy usage and advanced aerodynamic systems.

The new Formula E Gen 3 EVO cars come with the latest technology for Electric cars like Regenerative braking systems, ultra-fast charging abilities and more top speed and acceleration than the current Gen3 EV machines. Formula E remains the testing ground for the future of cars in the world.

Formula 1 Formula E
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