The Formula E at the antipodes of the Formula 1

Photo: Jacques Nadeau Le Devoir
Patrick Carpentier, spokesman for the ePrix of Montreal, has been the test of a bolide of FE on Friday.

The amateur race, which will attend the ePrix of Montreal this weekend should not confuse Formula 1 and Formula electric (FE), because the two disciplines are different in many levels.

First, the race will be held on an urban circuit of 2.75 km and punctuated with 14 turns, which borrows the streets of the city center, passing in front of the maison de Radio-Canada, and not on the traditional Gilles-Villeneuve circuit used for the F1 Grand Prix of Canada each year. This choice was made because of the limited lifetime of the batteries.

“It is not necessary to compare the circuits,” said Alain Prost, a former F1 driver who is campaigning for the development of the FE. We made the circuits of Formula E in town because the electric cars are not suited to traditional channels. If you roll on a runway more than 4 km, such as at the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, in large straight lines, with the autonomy, this is not possible. […] It would be a mistake to compare an FE to an F1 car. “

In addition, unlike the cars of F1, those of FE were all the same chassis and emit very little sound because they are powered by an electric motor, the noise is higher by only 10 decibels compared to a passenger car with gasoline engine.

They also reach peak speeds much less significant — approximately 370 km/h in F1 against 225 km/h in FE, regulations, the FIA requires — and have a battery life much lower. Moreover, the drivers must change car mid-race, since the battery of their car is completely exhausted. The series provides, however, that this “problem” will be resolved as soon its fifth season of existence in two years.

“From the outside, the cars of F1, IndyCar and FE are virtually identical, except for a few details at the level of aerodynamics, explained the spokesperson for the ePrix of Montreal, Patrick Carpentier. But all the chassis are the same, because we want the teams focus on the development of batteries and motors. The difference is there. “

“It is impossible to compare them [the cars of F1, and FE],” said the leader of the championship Sebastian Buemi, who has also driven for Toro Rosso in F1. The cars are heavier because of the batteries, the downforce is not the same, and they move differently in the turns. So it is very difficult to compare them. “

Racing fans will have the choice between 20 drivers, although very few of them are known — there are no Canadian. Most have made a career in Europe or have been drivers in F1. This is the case of the German Nick Heidfeld, Brazilian Nelson Piquet’s son and Lucas di Grassi, the Frenchman Nicolas Prost, and Jean-Eric Vergne and Swiss Buemi, in particular. The latter is also world champion of FE, and it will try to become this weekend the first driver to successfully defend his title.

The points of the race are awarded to the first 10 classified drivers, and the winner receives 25 points, against 18 for the holder of the second place and 15 for the one who finishes third. In addition, the position of the head is worth three points, and one point is awarded for the best lap in the race instead of two as was the case during the previous two seasons.

The table is set for two free practice sessions which will be held in the morning on Saturday and Sunday, followed by qualifying at midday and a race after 16 h 03. The events will last approximately an hour.

A ferocious fight to predict

The leader in drivers ‘ championship Formula electric (FE), Sebastien Buemi, is aware that he will be under pressure this weekend to be crowned champion. After all, the Swiss took the decision to be absent from the two most recent rounds of New York to participate at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring the 15 and 16 July. Even if his main opponent, the driver Lucas di Grassi from ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport, has not experienced the weekend as is hoped, the advance of Buemi has melted like snow in the sun. At first glance, the layout of the ePrix of Montreal seems to please the reigning champion, since there are, according to him, many opportunities for overtaking due to the track width.