Behind a single-seater on observe lies an especially advanced world of expertise, technicians, and engineers. Formulation 1 and Formulation E share a number of features but additionally characterize two fully totally different classes in how they conceive automobile improvement, each because of the nature of the automobiles themselves and a few financial constraints.
In Formulation 1, for instance, whereas remaining inside the regulatory quantity limits, groups have vital design freedom on the aerodynamic and chassis fronts, permitting them to discover totally different ideas from staff to staff. Conversely, in Formulation E, it was determined to depend on a single producer for aerodynamics and chassis, leaving extra room for powertrain improvement.
It’s exactly within the powertrain area {that a} central distinction emerges within the method to improvement. Earlier than the freeze on present items, Formulation 1 allowed steady improvement of each {hardware} and software program, for each the inner combustion and electrical elements, making vital efficiency leaps potential even in the course of the season.
Why FE focuses on software program
Conversely, in FE, improvement is split into two approaches: {hardware} improvement is proscribed to a two-year cycle, whereas software program improvement is totally unrestricted. On the {hardware} facet, as soon as the unit has been homologated, elements can’t be modified for the subsequent two seasons, a minimum of till the automobile’s evolution is launched. This additionally permits producers to homologate a brand new powertrain that may bear one other two-year cycle.
Nonetheless, whereas {hardware} improvement follows a cyclical sample to assist comprise prices in a financially sustainable collection—the place the annual price range per staff is capped at round €15 million in comparison with Formulation 1’s present €140 million—the actual battleground in Formulation E is software program, which is arguably extra straight linked to the automotive trade.
In Formulation 1, till the freeze in 2022, groups have been allowed 5 updates per season for the ability unit software program linked to the ECU, in addition to for the ERS and management unit functions. Since 2023, just one software program model per season has been permitted. As soon as the database is about, groups can alter its utilization based mostly on observe layouts and particular wants. Nonetheless, the core software program stays unchanged, with uncommon alternatives for updates.
In distinction, in Formulation E, given the FIA-imposed limitations on {hardware} improvement, there’s vital freedom in software program, which producers sometimes replace each two to 3 races after a validation part within the simulator. This can be a essential side for a number of causes: first, as seen prior to now two years, it permits vital progress within the standings, and second, because of the nature of the automobiles themselves.
Software program improvement improves effectivity
In Formulation E, effectivity is essential. Every automobile has a set quantity of vitality to finish the ePrix, however a part of that vitality doesn’t come from the battery; somewhat, it’s recovered throughout braking. The extra environment friendly a automobile is at managing vitality restoration and cost, the better the benefit it positive aspects.
Improvement additionally revolves round how the system recovers vitality throughout braking or elevate and coast, requiring shut collaboration with the motive force’s preferences. Moreover, software program influences how vitality is deployed and impacts the automobile’s stability.
It’s no coincidence that after being developed in specialised departments, software program is validated by drivers within the simulator to evaluate not solely its effectiveness but additionally its impression on automobile conduct. In FE, software program improvement is twofold: whereas the bottom software program is designed by the powertrain producer, buyer groups also can modify it.
Usually, past the mounted framework set by the producer for system operation, buyer groups have entry to change 10 to fifteen% of the code for personalisation. This may occasionally seem to be a small margin, but it surely impacts vital features akin to vitality restoration parameters, which is why buyer groups can typically problem the producer’s efficiency.
Software program can be a key consider F1 once more from 2026
In F1, software program improvement is presently restricted by laws, however from 2026 it’ll turn out to be a key side as soon as once more. This isn’t solely as a result of vitality administration will turn out to be considerably extra advanced, as beforehand analyzed, but additionally as a result of groups can be allowed to replace software program a number of instances in the course of the season.
From 2026, every producer can be permitted to make use of 5 totally different software program variations per season, reducing to 4 in 2027 and three from 2028 onward. As a result of very nature of the long run energy items, which can remove the MGU-H, groups might undertake vastly totally different vitality deployment methods all through a lap, with various acceleration curves relying on whether or not they prioritize higher acceleration or a unique vitality distribution.
With the 2026 laws making {the electrical} part the focus—the place energy output is break up 50/50 between the inner combustion engine and the electrical system—vitality administration will turn out to be a vital issue, and extra environment friendly software program may make a decisive distinction. This won’t solely contain software program improvement for enhancing CFD fashions or automobile conduct within the simulator however, maybe most significantly, for optimizing the administration of future energy items.
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