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 facets but additionally signify two utterly totally different classes in how they conceive automobile growth, 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 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 growth.
It’s exactly within the powertrain area {that a} central distinction emerges within the method to growth. Earlier than the freeze on present items, Formulation 1 allowed steady growth of each {hardware} and software program, for each the interior combustion and electrical elements, making vital efficiency leaps potential even throughout the season.
Why FE focuses on software program
Conversely, in FE, growth is split into two approaches: {hardware} growth is proscribed to a two-year cycle, whereas software program growth 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, 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.
Nevertheless, whereas {hardware} growth follows a cyclical sample to assist include prices in a financially sustainable collection—the place the annual funds per workforce 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 related to the automotive business.
In Formulation 1, till the freeze in 2022, groups had been allowed 5 updates per season for the facility 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 ready, groups can alter its utilization based mostly on monitor layouts and particular wants. Nevertheless, the core software program stays unchanged, with uncommon alternatives for updates.
In distinction, in Formulation E, given the FIA-imposed limitations on {hardware} growth, 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 facet for a number of causes: first, as seen up to now two years, it permits vital progress within the standings, and second, because of the nature of the automobiles themselves.
Software program growth 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; slightly, it’s recovered throughout braking. The extra environment friendly a automobile is at managing vitality restoration and cost, the better the benefit it features.
Improvement additionally revolves round how the system recovers vitality throughout braking or raise 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 affect on automobile conduct. In FE, software program growth is twofold: whereas the bottom software program is designed by the powertrain producer, buyer groups may also modify it.
Sometimes, past the mounted framework set by the producer for system operation, buyer groups have entry to switch 10 to fifteen% of the code for personalization. This will likely seem to be a small margin, but it surely impacts important facets corresponding to vitality restoration parameters, which is why buyer groups can typically problem the producer’s efficiency.
Software program will likely be a key consider F1 once more from 2026
In F1, software program growth is presently restricted by rules, however from 2026 it is going to change into a key facet as soon as once more. This isn’t solely as a result of vitality administration will change into considerably extra complicated, as beforehand analyzed, but additionally as a result of groups will likely be allowed to replace software program a number of occasions throughout the season.
From 2026, every producer will likely 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 get rid of 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 distinct vitality distribution.
With the 2026 rules making {the electrical} part the point of interest—the place energy output is cut up 50/50 between the interior combustion engine and the electrical system—vitality administration will change into a important issue, and extra environment friendly software program may make a decisive distinction. This won’t solely contain software program growth for bettering CFD fashions or automobile conduct within the simulator however, maybe most significantly, for optimizing the administration of future energy items.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
