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The new tech headache Formula E teams must solve

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Formula E Special feature

The new tech headache Formula E teams must solve

By:

Alex Kalinauckas

Oct 16, 2018, 10:03 AM

Formula E enters a new era with its Gen2 car, and one aspect of the technology changes is causing unease among drivers and teams ahead of pre-season testing. Is FE about to become too easy?

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One of the hallmarks of Formula E action during its Gen1 era was the challenge the cars presented to the drivers.

Heavy machinery, low-downforce levels, part-treaded/part-grooved all-weather tyres and sensitive brakes. Plus brake biases had to be finessed continuously as battery temperatures fluctuated and regenerative braking systems kicked in. All of that needed to be managed on bumpy low-grip street circuits closely lined with walls. That's a lot of things to go wrong.

Alex Kalinauckas

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Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.