Your one-stop shop for all things Formula E. This is your guide to the all-electric series and the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.

We’ve enjoyed two scintillating seasons in Formula E so far, gaining a legion of passionate new supporters from around the world, who have enjoyed the thrills and spills of our new racing adventure.

Two years in, we’d like to think we’re all a little wiser, but no one ever knows everything, and you should never stop learning. Plus, we want to take even more of you on our electric journey, so we’ll need to ensure you’re up to speed by the time the lights go out. Whether you’re a complete beginner, or you understand the basics, but want greater insight into how the series works, we’ve got you covered with our guide to Formula E.

We know that getting to grips with a new series can be daunting, so we’ve kept it simple and concise. This is exactly what you need to know to enjoy our third season in Formula E – no more, no less.

Who will be driving for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team?

We’ve a new-look line-up for 2024… well, sort of. Sam Bird has signed on for a second season with the team, but he’s got a new teammate, who fans may recognise. Taylor Barnard has stepped up to replace the departed Jake Hughes, being promoted from Reserve and Development Driver to a full-time race seat.

Taylor impressed the team in his time as our Reserve and Development Driver, providing valuable insight behind the scenes and even stepping up at short notice to race for us following an injury to Sam Bird. Replacing his now-teammate in the 2024 Monaco E-Prix and Berlin E-Prix, he finished 14th, 10th and eighth, respectively, becoming the youngest points scorer in FE history at the age of 19.

The 19-year-old British driver competed in the 2024 Formula 2 Championship with AIX Racing, where he won the Monaco Sprint Race. He was also a race winner in Formula 3 the year prior at Spa-Francorchamps and finished as vice-champion in the 2022 ADAC Formula 4 series and the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship.

As Taylor enters his first season as a full-time racing driver in Formula E, Sam will be starting his 11th successive season in the all-electric series. The experienced racer clinched NEOM McLaren’s first FE victory at the 2024 São Paulo E-Prix, his 12th overall. Sam is one of the most successful drivers on the grid, with 26 podiums and six Poles.

Sam knows the team well, having grown up in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, a short drive from the McLaren Technology Centre, and has previously worked with several members of our team, including his engineer, Stephen Lane. The 36-year-old’s expertise in FE, and his race craft, will continue to play key roles in his second year with the team.

Who is in charge of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team? 

Bringing Ian James across from the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team to become our Managing Director was a major coup. During his time with Mercedes, Ian built the series’ foremost dominant team, overseeing two Drivers' and Teams' World Championship title wins.

A recognisable face at the McLaren Technology Centre, Ian began his career with McLaren Automotive as a Manufacturing Engineer, and returned as Team Principal of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team and Managing Director of NEOM McLaren Electric Racing.

What does Formula E’s weekend format look like?

A lot of action in a short space of time. Almost an entire race weekend is squeezed into a single day, making FE events extremely fast-paced and exhilarating. Perfect for a newcomer, and minimal disruption to the streets of the city where the event is taking place.

There is an initial 30-minute practice session on a Friday, but after that, all of the action takes place on a Saturday. There is a further 30-minute practice on Saturday, before Qualifying, and the E-Prix later that day. As with any practice session, laps are timed, but the results don't count for points.

There will be six double headers this season, which is when two rounds take place at the same venue on the same weekend (one round on Saturday, another on Sunday, except in Saudi Arabia, with the rounds taking place on Friday and Saturday). The schedules are mirrored from each day.

How does Formula E Qualifying work?

The premise is simple – the fastest driver over one-lap wins, but there's more to an FE Qualifying session than that alone, with a Group Stage followed by a series of knockout rounds used to determine who that driver is. As you'd expect from Qualifying, it's high stakes, and errors are punished.

The two groups consist of 11 drivers based on Championship position – odd numbers in Group A, even in Group B. The four fastest drivers from each group progress into the knockouts, where they are pitted against one another in head-to-head duels. The four winners progress into the semi-finals, eliminating each other until only two remain.

The finalists then go head-to-head, with the quickest around one-lap taking pole and the three points that come with it. Those who made the knockout rounds will line up in the order they were eliminated, e.g. the quickest eliminated semi-finalist will start third, with the quarter-finalists in fifth to eighth – according to their lap times.

The drivers that competed in the polesitter's group, but didn't make the knockouts, will fill the remaining odd positions on the grid. The corresponding drivers from the other group will then fill in the even grid slots.

How do Formula E races work, and how many points are on offer?

Races are races. They begin with a standing start, determined by their Qualifying places, and last for a specific number of laps, depending on the location. Additional laps can be added up to three laps prior to the end of the race, if warranted, due to Safety Car or Yellow Flag interruptions.

Points are awarded to the top 10 finishers, with the winner receiving 25 in total, then 18, 15, 12, 10, eight, six, four, two and one for second place to 10th. The driver with the fastest lap inside the top 10 gains an additional point.

What cars are used in Formula E?

Inspired by a fighter jet, Formula E’s battery-powered all-electric racing car is capable of speeds of up to 200mph and can go from 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating FIA single-seater race car.

Formula E teams can source or develop their own drivetrains, but must all run the same chassis, built by Spark Racing Technologies, which keeps costs down and ensures close racing. For 2024/25, the GEN3 Evo will replace the GEN3, which has been used for the past two seasons.

The GEN3 Evo, which develops 350 kW (roughly 470bhp), is the world’s first net zero carbon race car. The cars feature 600kw regenerative braking, harvesting energy from the braking process and sends it back to the battery, generating roughly 50% of the energy needed for a race, during the race itself.

You can read more about the GEN3 Evo here.

What tyres are used in Formula E?

There is just one type of tyre in Formula E, supplied by Hankook. The compound has changed for 2024/25, however, with Hankook developing the GEN3 Evo iON race tyre, designed in close collaboration with the FIA specifically for this generation of car.

This means that tyres could play a bigger role in 2024/25, compared to past seasons, with teams and drivers needing to get up to speed with the changed compound.  

The tyres should lead to faster lap times, delivering ‘enhanced performance across all weather conditions’, with grip improved by 5-10% compared to previous models. As in previous seasons, the treaded all-weather boots are 18 inches. Four sets of tyres are provided for each event, except at double-headers, when six sets are available across the two events.  

What’s more, 35% of their construction will come from recycled and sustainable materials, showcasing the perfect balance of sustainability and performance.

What is Attack Mode?

Chances are, you'll probably have heard or seen the term Attack Mode, but you might not actually know what it is. Attack Mode provides every driver with an additional 50kW hit of power – up from 300kW to 350kW. This is utilised by driving off the racing line and through an Activation Zone, boosting the driver's chance of an overtake. Attack Mode can only be used at certain times of the race, as pre-determined by the FIA.

Where will we be racing, and where can you watch the action? 

Formula E is set for a record-equalling calendar in 2024/25, with the series announcing a 16-round season spanning 11 different locations.

The 2024/25 calendar will kick off earlier than usual, starting on 7 December in São Paulo, Brazil, one month on from Pre-Season Testing in Madrid, Spain. The second round of the season will take place in the new year on 11 January in Mexico City, and will be followed by a double header at a new venue in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on 14 and 15 February. On 12 April, Formula E will return to Miami, USA for the first time since Season 1, racing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, a historic venue that is known for hosting NASCAR and NTT INDYCAR SERIES races.

For the first time, Monaco is set to host a double header, with Rounds 6 and 7 taking place in Monte Carlo on 3 and 4 May. Two weeks later, FE will head to Tokyo, Japan for another double header on 17 and 18 May, followed by a third double header on 31 May and 1 June in Shanghai, China.

The Jakarta E-Prix will also return to the calendar, taking place for the first time since Season 10 on 21 June, hosting Round 12. Rounds 13 and 14 will take place in Berlin, Germany on 12 and 13 July before the season finishes in London, United Kingdom on 26 and 27 July.

Information on where to watch the races can be found here.

How will we perform this season?

You'll have to watch and see!

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