Yesterday, Formula E officially unveiled its Gen4 car, the fourth generation of its all-electric single-seater concept, aiming to take electric racing to a significantly higher level. The new car is extremely fast, to the point where there is now serious discussion about moving races away from purpose-built city street circuits and instead racing on more traditional permanent tracks.
This would mark a major shift for the championship, which has historically relied on tight urban layouts designed specifically to create entertainment and spectacle for fans.
Early track demonstrations of the Gen4 have generated strong excitement within the motorsport environment. So much so that Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries delivered a striking message aimed at Formula 1’s ownership structure.
“I have a message to deliver to my cousins in Formula 1,” he said, addressing Liberty Media Corporation. “You don’t make history by being half of one thing and half of another (a clear reference to the 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power in F1 power units, editor’s note). F1 is a Frankenstein. The future is electrification, 100%. Even with Gen4 there is no contest anymore. Gen5 and Gen6 will be another step forward. Formula E can only improve,” he told ‘The Race’.
Formula 1 works on its future, the battle is still open
Of course, the current wave of enthusiasm around Formula E, combined with the heavy criticism directed at Formula 1 this season, has given Mike Fries a perfect opportunity to launch a sharp attack on what he himself called Formula 1’s “cousin” series.
However, Formula 1 is far from finished. In reality, it has simply taken a temporary wrong turn in its technological direction. It is important to remember the reasons behind the abandonment of the MGU-H system. The core motivation was road relevance and development for production cars. Major manufacturers do not believe in a fully electric future, which is why the 2026 regulations were designed around an internal combustion engine powered by sustainable fuels.
The mistake, if it can be called that, was placing too much emphasis on the electric component of the hybrid system. The issue is that no engineers initially expected the internal combustion engine to recover so much performance. In fact, it has become so strong that, as early as last year, discussions in the paddock already pointed toward a potentially shortened regulation cycle in order to correct what was seen as an imbalance.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali, together with teams and manufacturers, is already working on the future direction of the sport. The next step is expected to be power units that remain hybrid in nature, but with a much stronger emphasis on the combustion engine compared to the current concept.
For Formula 1 to truly return to strength, it must “kill Frankenstein” and refocus heavily on the internal combustion engine. The intention is already there, and sustainable fuels could ensure long-term environmental viability. What is needed now is time. Unfortunately, the current situation was not entirely predictable. Manufacturers are not only working for sporting success but also for technological development, with far more at stake than simple competition.
Formula 1 made a major misstep with the 2026 regulations and has ended up in the gravel, but it will recover. Formula E, however, would be wise not to get ahead of itself. The battle is far from over. Even if Gen4 represents a significant step forward, performance levels between the two categories are still too far apart to be realistically compared.
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