Formula E is primed to make several adjustments to its sporting structure for the 2025-26 season, with a change in the use of attack mode in races that involve Pit Boost stops central among them.
The Race can reveal that such moves are being considered by the FIA in consultation with teams and the promoters to reduce the attack mode function to one activation only for races that are run as Pit Boost events.
Pit Boost - which adds 10% of car's useable race energy (3.85kWh) at a fast-charging pitstop - was first introduced for race one of the Jeddah double-header in February and was subsequently used in races in Monaco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin and London.
Run in conjunction with the separate attack mode feature, which requires drivers to run off-line to trigger an extra 50kW of power, these races were felt by many in the paddock to be too confusing for fans and TV viewers to follow effectively.
Speaking to The Race last season, DS Penske's Maximilian Guenther said he would be in favour of going from two attack mode activations to a single hit in races with a pitstop.
"It can be a good move because it will be decided more on merit, the races will tend to be less chaotic, and it will reduce the chances of getting lucky/unlucky with a safety car or a full course yellow [FCY] too," said Guenther.
He added: "But the highest importance in my opinion would be to stop your attack timer in safety car or FCY and continue when the race is green."
The FIA and Formula E have reviewed the sporting framework during the off-season and discussed with teams and some drivers a potential modified sporting make-up whereby only one attack mode activation would be required. Standalone one-race weekends are set to remain the same as 2025, with two attack mode activations.
Current Formula E champion Oliver Rowland was less enthusiastic, saying that he didn't think such a move "changes much" but that what Formula E needed to work on was "making it better on TV".
Formula E Operations confirmed to The Race this week, via a spokesperson, that it had "conducted multiple surveys of fans and ecosystem as well as commercial considerations - a final decision will be made soon".
The Race understands that the plans have been mostly met with a positive reception from teams after discussions at a recent Sporting Working Group. Such amendments to the sporting regulations must go through the FIA Formula E commission meeting, which is due to sit this week.
If, as expected, the decision to limit Pit Boost races to running with just one attack mode period go through the commission, it is expected to be communicated at the World Motor Sport Council meeting next month.
Further attack mode change
In addition to the reduced use of attack mode for Pit Boost races, the FIA is also considering altering the requirement to use all attack mode time prior to the end of races.
Several drivers had their races compromised last season when race suspensions came just after they had deployed attack mode. But it was at the Homestead race in April where it affected the result, as the finishing order was recalibrated because several drivers were unable to take all of their attack mode before the chequered flag was shown.
This was because a race-stopping incident just six laps from the end of the race ensured that several drivers were unable to take their full complement of six minutes of their final attack mode before the end of the race.
This resulted in the notional winner of the race, Norman Nato - one of those who couldn't fulfil his attack mode requirement - dropping to sixth post-race once his penalty was applied.
At the same time, Antonio Felix da Costa lost a likely win when he was compromised by the red flag coming out just moments after he had taken his last tranche of attack mode.
The proposed change is believed to not stipulate any cutoff for taking a final attack mode, meaning that theoretically drivers could trigger it on the final lap.
The Race understands that some teams have expressed concerns about strategies effectively converging in the knowledge that the final attack does not have to be completed prior to the end of a race should the changes go through.
Speaking to The Race about the possibility of this amendment being made, Rowland said "making it non-compulsory to take the attack modes is a good thing".
"That's because it's already a disadvantage not to take it, so you shouldn't be penalised as well as not being able to finish it," he argued. "That's a good thing, and I think it'll make the racing a bit better."
It is believed that a system of freezing the attack mode time being used by a competitor when a race suspension occurs was discussed but will ultimately not be mandated for next season.
Official confirmation of the attack mode changes is expected to come shortly after the Formula E Commission sits this week.
