Formula E Rules and Regulations: A Clear Explanation

Mar 12

Formula E's 2023/24, Season 10 campaign, is a championship that consists of two separate titles - one dedicated to the drivers and another dedicated to the teams. The Drivers’ World Championship is awarded to the driver who has accumulated the most points over the season, while the Teams’ World Championship is decided by the combined points score of each team’s driver pairing throughout the campaign.

To achieve these titles, drivers and teams must follow strict rules and regulations, including a standard points system, penalties for misconduct, and specific requirements for e-Licences. Additionally, Formula E has specific rules regarding tyres and allocation.

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Championship and standings

As mentioned, Formula E's championship consists of two separate titles - the Drivers’ World Championship and the Teams’ World Championship. The Drivers’ World Championship is awarded to the driver who has accumulated the most points over the season, while the Teams’ World Championship is decided by the combined points score of each team’s driver pairing throughout the campaign.

In the event of a dead heat, the higher place in the Championship shall be awarded to the driver with the most first places in a race. If the number of first places is the same, the number of second places is looked at, then third place, and so on until a winner emerges. If this procedure fails to produce a result, the FIA nominates the winner according to such criteria as it thinks fit.

Points System

Formula E follows a standard points system, used in other FIA-sanctioned series, awarding points to the top-10 finishers. The first-place finisher is awarded 25 points, the second-place finisher gets 18 points, and the third-place finisher receives 15 points. The points awarded decrease as the finishing position decreases, with the tenth-place finisher receiving one point.

Additional points are also awarded for securing Julius Baer Pole Position (three championship points) and clinching the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap (one championship point) in the race. However, the driver must finish in the top-10 places at the end of the race to be awarded the extra point for fastest lap.

Penalties

Drivers and teams can be investigated and subsequently sanctioned for a variety of incidents, such as causing a collision, forcing another driver off the track, or breaching the regulations. The Stewards are the group of individuals from the FIA who decide, upon a report or a request by the Race Director, if drivers or teams are given a penalty for an incident.

The penalties that can be imposed on a driver include a 5-second time penalty, a 10-second time penalty, a drive-through penalty, and a 10-second stop-and-go time penalty. If any of the four penalties above are imposed upon a driver finishing outside of the top 10 or if that driver is unable to serve the penalty due to retirement from the race, the Stewards have the power to hand them a grid penalty for their next race.

Drivers can also pick up penalty points on their e-Licences. If they get up to 12 penalty points, their licence will be suspended for the following event, following which the 12 points will be removed from their e-Licence. Penalty points will remain on a Driver’s e-Licence for a period of 12 months, after which they will be respectively removed on the 12-month anniversary of their imposition.

e-Licence

Formula E drivers must hold current and valid e-Licences. To achieve this licence, drivers must conduct a specific FIA training session focusing on electrical safety, specific features of the fully-electric Formula E car, as well as reviewing both technical and sporting aspects of the series. In addition, they will need to have accumulated at least 20 points in the past three years in conjunction with the FIA points system - used to qualify for a Super Licence. If they haven’t, they need to have previously been holding a Super Licence, or to have participated in at least three events of the previous FIA Formula E World Championship.

The champion from the previous season automatically qualifies for a Super Licence the following year. Even those who are participating in a Free Practice session must hold one of the E-licences.

Tyres and allocation

Only tyres which have been provided by the FIA-appointed supplier, the bespoke 18-inch all-weather tyres by Hankook, may be used throughout the Competition. At each race, drivers can use no more than four new rear and four new front all-weather tyres of the same specification. For double-header events, each driver may use no more than six new rear and six new front all-weather tyres of the same specification. All tyres must be strictly identical.

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