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It’s been an interesting few weeks for Formula E.
With interest from the subcontinent, calls for Buck Rogers aero kits and scratching their heads as Formula One implodes, the premiere electric series is having some sophomore growing pains while trying too hard to be like big brother.
Formula India
It was intriguing to see last week that the Delhi Government has sent a letter to Formula E Holdings, pledging their support for a potential ePrix in New Delhi.
There were of course a number of factors that finished off Formula One in India before it even began.
Firstly, due to financial troubles with Indian Grand Prix organisers Jaypee Sports International Limited, who coincidentally had also failed to hold a Superbike event by failing to obtain permission from the sports ministry to stage the event.
The other issue being India high tax regime causing a major headache for drivers and teams. High customs duties, corporation and personal tax caused major headaches for Formula One personnel and major tax claims against multi-national companies and sponsors will not go unnoticed.
That said, the fact that the idea of a Formula E race having strong government support should go some way to stemming the tide of potential tax claims and ease any concerns from Agag and co.
Bums on sets
Formula E Holdings will be watching the recent SkySports deal and Formula One Management with great interest. With the sport effectively being run behind a pay-wall for the next three years, there has never been a better time for rival motor sport categories to poach viewers.
The World Endurance Championship has just entered into their own deal with Motorsport.com as a digital partner, so it remains to be seen how the move will sit with audiences faithful to RadioLeMans, but Formula E will have to up its game if it’s to seize on the opportunity.
Currently, live streaming on the official Formula E site has been sketchy at best, with some countries requiring a VPN to even view intermittently functioning telecasts. Likewise, UK viewers often find themselves watching delayed telecasts when races clash with more ‘popular’ sports.
Unfortunately, there is little alternative, with (even during season one) small cable networks being priced out of broadcasting highlights packages due to exorbitant licensing fees.
While Formula E is to be applauded for chasing new media outlets with 360 degree sports highlights and computer generated recreations of races (starting at the Long Beach round with live streams projected to be available from Paris onwards) aimed at improving viewer engagement, it need to walk before it can run.
Fans want live sport – pure and simple – and if you don’t deliver, they’ll go elsewhere.
A sow’s ear?
Something that concerned me last week was the announcement that Formula E was evaluating an updated body-kit look for Season Three.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, the alarms bells raised when the call was made out for applicants to submit a ‘futuristic bodywork’ in their bid. There were cues to take their inspiration from recent ‘future concept artwork’ from McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull – in other words ‘can you make us a spoon, but just not as spoony as this one’.
The idea reeks of Formula One’s Strategy Group’s call for a ‘more aggressive’ aero package with ‘retro styling’. Yes, a new look would be nice to keep the fire burning among fans, but avant-garde aesthetics should probably be looked at after solving the bespoke battery issue that was sidelined by the World Motor Sport Council recently for reasons of cost.
The very DNA of Formula E centres on battery development and if the series is to curb development, then they will lose not only the interest of punters but manufacturers as well.
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