Behind a single-seater on observe lies a particularly advanced world of expertise, technicians, and engineers. Method 1 and Method E share a number of features but additionally symbolize two utterly completely different classes in how they conceive car growth, each as a result of nature of the vehicles themselves and a few financial constraints.
In Method 1, for instance, whereas remaining inside the regulatory quantity limits, groups have vital design freedom on the aerodynamic and chassis fronts, permitting them to discover completely different ideas from group to group. Conversely, in Method E, it was determined to depend on a single producer for aerodynamics and chassis, leaving extra room for powertrain growth.
It’s exactly within the powertrain area {that a} central distinction emerges within the method to growth. Earlier than the freeze on present models, Method 1 allowed steady growth of each {hardware} and software program, for each the interior combustion and electrical parts, making vital efficiency leaps doable even in the course of the season.
Why FE focuses on software program
Conversely, in FE, growth is split into two approaches: {hardware} growth is restricted to a two-year cycle, whereas software program growth is totally unrestricted. On the {hardware} facet, as soon as the unit has been homologated, parts can’t be modified for the following two seasons, a minimum of till the car’s evolution is launched. This additionally permits producers to homologate a brand new powertrain that may bear one other two-year cycle.
Nevertheless, whereas {hardware} growth follows a cyclical sample to assist include prices in a financially sustainable sequence—the place the annual price range per group is capped at round €15 million in comparison with Method 1’s present €140 million—the actual battleground in Method E is software program, which is arguably extra instantly linked to the automotive trade.
In Method 1, till the freeze in 2022, groups have been allowed 5 updates per season for the facility unit software program linked to the ECU, in addition to for the ERS and management unit purposes. Since 2023, just one software program model per season has been permitted. As soon as the database is ready, groups can regulate its utilization based mostly on observe layouts and particular wants. Nevertheless, the core software program stays unchanged, with uncommon alternatives for updates.
In distinction, in Method E, given the FIA-imposed limitations on {hardware} growth, there’s vital freedom in software program, which producers sometimes replace each two to a few races after a validation section within the simulator. It is a essential facet for a number of causes: first, as seen up to now two years, it permits vital progress within the standings, and second, as a result of nature of the vehicles themselves.
Software program growth improves effectivity
In Method E, effectivity is essential. Every automotive has a set quantity of vitality to finish the ePrix, however a part of that vitality doesn’t come from the battery; relatively, it’s recovered throughout braking. The extra environment friendly a automotive is at managing vitality restoration and cost, the higher the benefit it positive factors.
Improvement additionally revolves round how the system recovers vitality throughout braking or carry and coast, requiring shut collaboration with the driving force’s preferences. Moreover, software program influences how vitality is deployed and impacts the automotive’s steadiness.
It’s no coincidence that after being developed in specialised departments, software program is validated by drivers within the simulator to evaluate not solely its effectiveness but additionally its affect on car habits. In FE, software program growth is twofold: whereas the bottom software program is designed by the powertrain producer, buyer groups can even modify it.
Sometimes, past the fastened framework set by the producer for system operation, buyer groups have entry to switch 10 to fifteen% of the code for personalisation. This may occasionally look like a small margin, but it surely impacts essential features reminiscent of vitality restoration parameters, which is why buyer groups can typically problem the producer’s efficiency.
Software program shall be a key think about F1 once more from 2026
In F1, software program growth is presently restricted by laws, however from 2026 it is going to change into a key facet as soon as once more. This isn’t solely as a result of vitality administration will change into considerably extra advanced, as beforehand analyzed, but additionally as a result of groups shall be allowed to replace software program a number of instances in the course of the season.
From 2026, every producer shall be permitted to make use of 5 completely different software program variations per season, reducing to 4 in 2027 and three from 2028 onward. Because of the very nature of the longer term energy models, which is able to get rid of the MGU-H, groups might undertake vastly completely different vitality deployment methods all through a lap, with various acceleration curves relying on whether or not they prioritize higher acceleration or a unique vitality distribution.
With the 2026 laws making {the electrical} part the focus—the place energy output is break up 50/50 between the interior combustion engine and the electrical system—vitality administration will change into a essential issue, and extra environment friendly software program might make a decisive distinction. This won’t solely contain software program growth for enhancing CFD fashions or car habits within the simulator however, maybe most significantly, for optimizing the administration of future energy models.
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