Can Formula E's 2026 Gen4 AWD Cars Compete With F1?
Formula E wins the race of energy efficiency over its F1 competition. The Gen4 model will increase that Formula E capacity.
Image courtesy of Formula E | Article originally published on CleanTechnica
Formula E's Gen4 iteration will arrive for the 2026-2027 season. Upgrades will continue to enhance the power and performance of the all-electric vehicles in its planned 18 race season.
Even with all the aerodynamic and power improvements over its nearly dozen year history, Formula E seems unable to compete with Formula 1's popularity. Perhaps it's Formula E's quiet, gear whiring sound. Or the lack of smell of burning rubber, racing fuel, and motor oil. Or its minimal 45 minute race length. Or maybe it's the memories of iconic F1 races and drivers and the respect both demands.
Regardless of the reasoning, Formula E is solidly considered a second tier series.
But should it be?
The Formula E Gen4 2026-2027 Specs
The Formula E Gen4 car will arrive for the 2026-2027 season, and the Gen4 era will be the first open-wheel series with four-wheel-drive cars. Maximum power will reach 600 kW. Regen capability will increase to 700kW, which will offer a surplus of power needed to finish the race. The step up in performance has already been demonstrated in early private testing of the car; James Rossiter clocked over 210 mph during a run at Jarama.
Early glimpses of the Gen4 show a narrow nose section with a flowing front wing composed of multiple elements. Both are intended to complement different aerodynamic configurations for high and low downforce and to introduce real-time adjustments. That enhancement is traditionally reserved for supercars or limited applications in Formula 1.
The chassis will still be made by Spark, and Italian supplier Podium Advanced Technologies will provide batteries. Bridgestone will become the tire supplier for Formula E, offering two tire options for the first time in Formula E history. The previous all-weather tire will continue as Bridgestone’s primary tire, and an extreme wet option will be the second selection. The wet option will alleviate difficulties in extreme wet conditions, hopefully to reduce aborted rainy qualifying and practice sessions.
So far, Nissan, Jaguar, Porsche, Maserati, and Lola have committed to staying in the sport with Gen4.
The Formula 1 2026 Specs
Right now, the cars in F1 2025 are among the fastest the sport has ever encountered.
Revised aerodynamic regulations and new power unit rules, including increased battery power and the use of 100% sustainable fuels, are important changes for the 2026 F1 season.
The F1 cars will have a maximum wheelbase of 3400 mm (about 11 feet) and a width of 1900 mm (about 65 feet). Its minimum weight will be 768 kg (just under 170 pounds), down 30 kg (about 66 pounds) from 2022. Downforce has been reduced by 30% and drag by 55%.
Pirelli’s 18-inch wheel size introduced in 2022 will remain, but the front tires has been reduced by 25 mm (about an inch) and the rears by 30 mm (just over an inch) compared to the previous generation of cars.
The cars will be switchable between two configurations, to either minimize fuel consumption or to maximize cornering performance. All-new active aerodynamics systems, involving movable front and rear wings, will be introduced. Lower drag and greater straight-line speed will be possible when the second angle is deployed. This new system can be used in zones like those used for the current DRS overtaking aid. The result? The cars may produce slightly slower lap times than in 2025.
The 2026 power units will run on fully sustainable fuels. There will be a greater use of electric power in the 2026 units with a shift towards a 50% electrical and 50% thermal power distribution.
Are the Formula E Cars Close to F1's Performance?
Formula E Gen4 cars will have enough power to complete at a level equivalent to F2 and IndyCar in performance. Because the Gen4 car will weigh about 20% more than an F1 car, F1 will still reign. The Gen4's 800+ hp and AWD will make it quick out of slow corners, so, who knows? It could exceed F1 cars at this point on the track.
With all-electric power, the Gen 4 will be quieter than the V10 F1 machines but can offer an exciting race experience, getting closer each year to the raw speed and agility of Formula 1. Simon Ostler of Goodwood Road and Racing reminds us that "teams have control of car setup, ride heights, damping, and the software that controls the powertrain, so each team can work to achieve the best balance between speed and efficiency."
It goes without saying that Formula E wins the race of energy efficiency over its Formula 1 competition. The Gen4 car has the capacity to add energy as the race goes on -- it will be able to regenerate 700 kW under braking, up from the current 600 kW. That makes the Formula E cars at least 15 times more efficient than their Formula 1 counterparts.
This approach isn’t just a performance booster; it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about car handling in motorsport. By constantly optimizing power distribution, Formula E engineers can ensure that each tire performs at its maximum potential through corners and during acceleration. The implications for cornering speed and overall car stability are massive, promising a tighter, more controlled racing experience.
The Gen 4's individual wheel motors is a breakthrough, as control of each wheel’s torque and speed will come under the command of software. Look for optimized grip and acceleration as the car’s onboard computer modifies each tire based on individual conditions.
One advantage that Formula E had over F1 that it seems to be relinquishing is its original habit of racing exclusively on temporary city center street tracks. "When we go to the street tracks, it's quite slippy to begin with, because there's no rubber down and there's a lot of dust. But once we've cleaned up the racing line on those tracks, then it's quite good grip," Maserati driver Jake Hughes told Ars. "The biggest, most extreme street track probably goes to either London or Tokyo. And I would say the grip in those places feels a little bit higher than here."
Attack Mode is a kind of in-race power boost. Every driver has to use Attack Mode for eight minutes during the race, usually split into either two four-minute deployments or two- and six-minute deployments. It's activated by driving over a pair of timing loops set away from the racing line, and bumps power from 300 kW to 350 kW.
Jaguar TCS team principal James Barkley notes that the Formula E focus is not on outright speed. Instead, he says that Formula E prioritizes tight, competitive racing that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem explains how F1 is improving for the 2026 season.
"In tandem with chassis regulations that provide for lighter, more agile cars featuring innovative aerodynamic solutions, we have created a set of regulations designed to not only improve racing but also to make the championship even more attractive to PU manufacturers, OEMs, and existing competitors."
And that's the rub, isn't it? Sulayem says the enhancement will "improve racing," but what did the parades of F1 cars at Monaco and Montreal tell us? F1's inequities among teams, the inappropriate track configurations for these big vehicles, and failure to censure high points-awarded teams (read: Red Bull) that make for a boring race.
And then there's the need to make the racing "more attractive to PU manufacturers, OEMs, and existing competitors." That translates into competition for profits, pure and simple. The spectacle must come before sustainability, impure and simple.