Pit stops have made Formula E racing more unpredictable

      Yesterday in Jeddah on the city track, the length of which has been reduced to 3001 meters, held the first race of the dual stage of Formula E, during which for the first time in the history of the electric series held mandatory pit stops for express recharging of batteries. The introduction of the so-called Pit Boost was announced long ago, but long delayed, and finally everyone saw this phenomenon in action. Such a pit stop lasts 34 seconds, of which the actual recharging takes exactly 30 seconds. Racers turn off on the pit lane and head to the boxes of their teams, where there are now special charging stations that provide express recharging of batteries, when the level of energy in them decreases in the range of 40-60%. If in previous years in the middle phase of the race Formula E usually were periods in the middle phase of Formula E, when the track was not happening special events, and the peloton was as dense as possible, because everyone preferred to save energy, yesterday's race had a slightly different character. The course of the fight on the track was more like what happens in the races of single-seater cars of traditional series. The author of the text in the American edition of Racer recalls that the original idea of Pit Boost was to make Formula E races more interesting and diverse in terms of tactics. In the world championship for racing electric cars applies such a technique as the mandatory use of Attack Mode, when the pilot in the course of the distance can temporarily use the mode of increased power twice. When and how to use it, he decides himself together with the team, but the total time of the "attack mode" should not exceed 4 minutes, and all this makes Formula E a very bright show with unpredictable outcome, where a very important role is also played by the factor of luck. It is too early to draw conclusions, but the first experience of mandatory pit stops to recharge the batteries, according to many Max Guenther, who eventually took the win, both times used the increased power mode after Pit Boost, which allowed him to attack Rowland in the last laps. Oliver could not resist the onslaught of his rival and after the finish said that if he had known how much power was left in the batteries of Guenther's DS Penske, he would have built his race a little differently.

      Jake Hughes, the Maserati driver who was the first to pit on lap 14, emphasized that it would be important to understand what tactics his rivals were going to use in the future, and that would be one of the key factors in his success. "Of course, it was the very first race that we've ever done with express recharging pit stops and it was a completely new element for everyone and it made a difference on the track," commented Hughes. - I think we learned some good lessons, and I learned an important psychological lesson as well. I think that the topic of rational use of energy, received thanks to Pit Boost, will be discussed very actively ". I think that the initial stage of the race on such tracks as Portland or Misano, where the high energy consumption, will be even more hectic, - continued Oliver Rowland. - At the same time qualifying will no longer be so important. We will see who will prefer what tactics. I expect that already Saturday's race in Jeddah will be a little more chaotic, and I do not exclude that the opportunity to fight for victory will get even those who start around the 15th position. Tonight we will see to what extent Rowland, who leads in the individual standings of Formula E, will be right.