Formula E, the all-electric racing championship owned by Liberty Global, is set to launch a brand-new race format for its upcoming 2026-27 Gen 4 era — one that draws inspiration from the shorter sprint race concepts that have gained traction in Formula One and MotoGP.
The series is calling the new format “ePrix unleashed,” and it will be used during weekend events where two races are scheduled. Unlike Formula One’s sprint races, which cover roughly a third of a grand prix distance, the unleashed version will be only about 10 minutes shorter than a standard ePrix.
Typical Formula E races run 45 minutes plus one lap — generally between 33 and 45 laps depending on the venue — compared to a Formula One grand prix, which can last up to two hours.
The key difference with the unleashed format is that it strips away much of the energy management strategy that defines a regular race, freeing drivers to push flat out and showcase the car’s full capabilities.
Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds explained the distinction to Reuters: “It’s a very, very different proposition. Maybe there’s 10 minutes difference between an unleashed race and a traditional ePrix.”
“The difference is one is a purely strategic game of chess on a racetrack — energy management, very complex — the other is more full send, much less energy restrictions and 450kw of four-wheel drive power,” Dodds added. “So they are going to feel like completely different races.”
Dodds also sees the shorter format as a way to attract a wider audience. “I think having a version that’s more clippable, better for social media, much shorter attention span is not a bad thing,” he said. “And we’ll only do them on double-headers. We’ll only introduce them in a format whereby if you come for the weekend, you get to experience both different types of format.”
The expanded 2026-27 calendar will feature 21 races held across 13 cities — more events than the series has ever held. The season will kick off with night races in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on December 18 and 19, 2026, and conclude with night races in Tokyo on July 24 and 25, 2027.
New venues familiar to Formula One fans will join the schedule, including Brands Hatch in southern England, Zandvoort in the Netherlands, and Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
Brands Hatch, located southeast of London, will serve as Formula E’s new home in Britain, replacing its previous London venue. The circuit hosted 12 editions of the British Formula One Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 before the series outgrew it.
“We think for the kind of crowd we would hope to get there, we can fill Brands Hatch up and turn that into a proper amphitheatre and make it feel really special and really busy and really full,” said Dodds. “We think Brands Hatch has the potential to be a long-term home for us in the UK if we do it right.”
Dodds acknowledged that racing at a non-urban circuit more easily reached by car than public transport carries carbon footprint implications, but said those concerns would be offset by reduced equipment haulage and the elimination of temporary structures that street circuits require.
The new Gen 4 car set to debut in this era is a significant step forward in performance. It can exceed 335 kph (208 mph), accelerating from 0 to 100 kph in just 1.8 seconds and from 0 to 200 kph in 4.4 seconds. It will produce 50% more power in race mode compared to the current Gen3 Evo model and is projected to be an average of 10 seconds per lap faster in qualifying mode, with organizers expecting a 5-second-per-lap improvement on street circuits.
