Cyril Blais, director of Citroen Racing, has presented an innovative idea to reform the Pit Boost format in Formula E, suggesting that teams should have the freedom to decide how much energy they want to charge during pit stops.
This electric championship introduced fast charging technology starting from the 2024-25 season, with each double race including a mandatory Pit Boost stop. Despite this, many fans have not embraced the Pit Boost format, which involves fixed charges of 3.85 kWh or 10% of the battery capacity in 30 seconds, limiting teams’ strategy.
Blais believes that allowing different stop options, such as a shorter charge with less energy or a longer charge with more energy, could add a new strategic dimension to the races. “Currently, everyone receives the same amount of energy in a fixed time,” said Blais.
His proposal would allow drivers to gain positions on the track at the cost of a lower energy charge and vice versa, creating situations of greater strategic diversification similar to those seen in endurance races. An example of this was seen during the last race of the World Endurance Championship in Spa, where BMW secured its first victory in the Hypercar category.
Blais has also expressed the need for Formula E to maintain the excitement of on-track battles and avoid the races becoming overly artificial. Next year, Formula E will introduce the Pit Boost in all full races as part of a broader restructuring of the sports format.
With the aim of simplifying the race tracking, eliminating the minimum pit stop time could facilitate a more natural competition and varied strategies. Blais has indicated that finding the balance between an exciting format and a clear presentation for viewers is essential for the future of Gen4 Formula E.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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