The Formula E paddock is starting to feel a sense of discomfort and perhaps even embarrassment about the potential implementation of pit stops for energy recharge, known as ‘attack charge’, which have been postponed for a long time. After recent tests ended with one of the chargers needing to be isolated and the cancellation of a crucial training session, teams will meet with the FIA on Thursday to discuss the next steps of the plans.
Williams Advanced Engineering [WAE], the supplier of the infrastructure, has been analyzing what went wrong in Mexico City, when Envision Racing encountered an issue with the equipment, resulting in its isolation for investigation. This led to the cancellation of the second planned free practice session for all teams in Mexico City and in the test in Diriyah at the end of January.
Pit stops in free practice will return to São Paulo this week, but with some teams having little experience with the equipment, time is running out for its implementation in the current season. If the implementation is postponed for another season, it will be two delayed campaigns, as the original plan was to introduce ‘attack charge’ pit stops for Gen3 in January 2023.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds acknowledged that this ongoing saga may be embarrassing for the championship. He emphasized the importance of launching the pit stops only when they are fully developed and capable of delivering the desired results. The goal is to show the ability to charge electric vehicles in 30 seconds for a 10% increase in battery. Dodds stated that Formula E will not take action until they are 100% confident in the technology.
Dodds explained that ‘right’ in this context means that pit stops work effectively and safely and enhance the sporting format. Formula E aims to avoid confusing fans with an inferior format to the previous racing format. The goal is to introduce pit stops when they are deemed ready.
São Paulo this week will see the return of pit stops in the free practice sessions in the first training session on Friday afternoon, followed by another test in the Saturday morning session. It is expected that the FIA will establish guidelines for teams to make at least one pit stop in each free practice session, with the option of making additional stops without recharging energy simultaneously. The E-Prix in Tokyo in March will provide the FIA an opportunity to evaluate the equipment before possible implementation in the races in Misano the following month.
Even if the tests go well, there is likely to be resistance from teams and drivers who see the plans as problematic. The FIA and Formula E have several options, including moving forward with pit stops if they are confident in their functionality and fairness, further delaying implementation until Berlin in May, or completely discarding them for this season and incorporating them in the new Gen3Evo era next season. A second consecutive season of delays could have serious consequences for the future of pit stops.
Opinions in Formula E regarding ‘attack charge’ pit stops are divided. While some see potential value in them, the majority are not in favor. Drivers and teams are concerned about reliability and the impact on race results, as car overlapping is not allowed. Uncertainty surrounding pit stops and the potential performance sacrifice for one driver compared to another are significant concerns.
Although some drivers, like Sam Bird, are generally in favor of the idea, they also emphasize the need for reliability. They believe that introducing pit stops now would be premature, considering the ongoing issues in the pit lane area. There is a fear that pit stops could create unfairness in races if failures occur due to problems with suppliers.
In conclusion, the Formula E paddock is dealing with the potential implementation of pit stops for ‘attack charge’ recharging, facing challenges in terms of reliability, fairness, and impact on the sporting format. The decision to proceed with pit stops or further delay their introduction will have significant implications for the future of Formula E.
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