Behind a single-seater on monitor lies a particularly complicated world of expertise, technicians, and engineers. Formulation 1 and Formulation E share a number of points but additionally characterize two fully totally different classes in how they conceive automobile improvement, each as a result of nature of the vehicles 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 workforce to workforce. 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 through 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} aspect, as soon as the unit has been homologated, elements can’t be modified for the subsequent two seasons, at the least till the automobile’s evolution is launched. This additionally permits producers to homologate a brand new powertrain that may endure one other two-year cycle.
Nonetheless, whereas {hardware} improvement follows a cyclical sample to assist comprise prices in a financially sustainable sequence—the place the annual price range per workforce is capped at round €15 million in comparison with Formulation 1’s present €140 million—the true 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 purposes. Since 2023, just one software program model per season has been permitted. As soon as the database is ready, groups can alter its utilization based mostly on monitor 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 may be vital freedom in software program, which producers sometimes replace each two to a few races after a validation section within the simulator. It is a essential facet for a number of causes: first, as seen prior to now two years, it permits vital progress within the standings, and second, as a result of nature of the vehicles themselves.
Software program improvement improves effectivity
In Formulation E, effectivity is essential. Every automotive has a set quantity of vitality to finish the ePrix, however a part of that vitality doesn’t come from the battery; slightly, it’s recovered throughout braking. The extra environment friendly a automotive is at managing vitality restoration and cost, the larger the benefit it positive factors.
Growth additionally revolves round how the system recovers vitality throughout braking or carry and coast, requiring shut collaboration with the driving force’s preferences. Moreover, software program influences how vitality is deployed and impacts the automotive’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 affect 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 switch 10 to fifteen% of the code for personalisation. This may occasionally appear to be a small margin, but it surely impacts crucial points similar to vitality restoration parameters, which is why buyer groups can typically problem the producer’s efficiency.
Software program can be a key think about F1 once more from 2026
In F1, software program improvement is presently restricted by rules, however from 2026 it should turn out to be a key facet as soon as once more. This isn’t solely as a result of vitality administration will turn out to be considerably extra complicated, as beforehand analyzed, but additionally as a result of groups can be allowed to replace software program a number of occasions through 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 longer term energy items, which can get rid of the MGU-H, groups could 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 rules 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 crucial issue, and extra environment friendly software program may make a decisive distinction. This won’t solely contain software program improvement for bettering CFD fashions or automobile conduct within the simulator however, maybe most significantly, for optimizing the administration of future energy items.
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