The Formula E Fan Experience: What Makes It So Unique?
Have you ever visited an event and felt an unexplainable sense that something special was in the air? A vibe so distinct that you couldn’t quite put your finger on what made it feel unique? That’s exactly the feeling I’ve experienced every time I’ve attended a Formula E event.
The locations varied, the atmospheres shifted depending on the location, but the unique energy remained the same. So, what is it that creates this remarkable Formula E fan experience and feeling?
To explore this further, I spoke to fellow attendees at the Formula E Monaco double-header. What became evident very quickly was this: while the racing itself is edge-of-your-seat thrilling, it’s not the only factor that sets Formula E apart.
Besides the obvious love for racing, there is another thing that every fan I talked to mentioned that makes being a Formula E fan so special: the friendships created by the shared love for the series.
While walking the Monaco pitlane on Friday, I met three friends: Janice, Sofia and Laura. Janice is from Malaysia, Sofia from Portugal and Laura from Germany. How did three people from such vastly different places end up being friends? "We met on the internet and now we are here together", Sofia told me. In the increasingly digital world of sports, the power of social media and a shared love for Formula E created a connection that would otherwise never have happened for geographical reasons.
What began as casual curiosity - especially for Sofia, who initially only followed Formula 1 - quickly turned into something deeper. "Now this is possibly my favourite motorsport", she beamed.
Being Portuguese, the driver she started watching Formula E for is Portuguese driver António Félix da Costa. "I met him today, it was very emotional for me", she said, visibly moved by the experience.
On the same Friday, the pit lane with all the cars, drivers and teams, was open to the public. No ticket was needed to go in and talk to the drivers, team members and other people present.
Meeting the people you’ve only ever seen through a screen - be it your phone, computer, or TV - is a huge moment. It provides the opportunity to speak to them, get autographs and take a picture. It is a really good way to deepen the connection between the fan, driver, team and series and create memorable experiences. Feeling and experiencing this support through a meeting on a day the pit lane is open for the public, or the autograph sessions, can create a positive atmosphere that can uplift drivers' and teams' morale.
Formula E offers a limited number of tickets to autograph sessions, where fans can go and meet the drivers on race days before the races. For the Monaco ePrix this season, the first 200 fans to purchase tickets for the event received free access to the autograph sessions.
However, this process wasn't without criticism. Many fans found the allocation system unclear and unfair. The autograph access was not mentioned during ticket purchase, and enquiries months and even weeks in advance received no definitive information. Even the ticketing office staff lacked clarity, sharing that they had not been given information about the allocation process. Fans eventually received their tickets from an unfamiliar email address very shortly before the event, leading to uncertainty, even among those who were lucky enough to get tickets. The utilisation of an unrelated email address made recipients question the legitimacy of the tickets. In contrast, in the past, the autograph session was available as a purchasable add-on, which many felt was a more transparent and fair system.
So, how do fans decide who to support in Formula E? A dive into online forums like Autosport, Reddit, and Quora reveals that success on track isn’t the deciding factor. Instead, personality and nationality tend to have a much bigger influence.
This was something that was further highlighted during the conversation with Sofia, someone of Portuguese nationality, who started to watch Formula E because of fellow Portuguese driver Da Costa. Meanwhile, the importance of having a nice, relatable personality was highlighted by Janice: "We love how nice all the staff and drivers are. If they have time, they are happy to chat", Janice described.
@MattNav summed up nicely on YouTube: "This is my 5th or 6th time attending the Monaco E-Prix in person and it's always a fun experience, especially given how much more affordable grandstand tickets are compared to the F1 GP 😅"
The monetary aspect is certainly important. Formula E is far more accessible financially than their Formula 1 counterpart. In many countries, Formula E races can be watched for free, while Formula 1 often requires a pricey subscription.
Comparing the prices of grandstand tickets for Monaco, a race location both series share, the difference is significant. The cheapest price for a ticket for the F1 Grand Prix is more than 4 times the amount of that of a Formula E race: around 134€ vs. 30€. The price for the Formula E ticket offers a seat on a proper grandstand, whereas the cheapest Formula 1 ticket gets you a ticket for The Rocher, which is a spot on a hill with a view of the track without a seat. The difference is substantial when you factor in travel, accommodation, and food. This affordability can make a big difference for young fans and those from low-, or even average-income households.
Having significantly lower prices for tickets makes it much more achievable for people to attend. This allows for more people of diverse backgrounds to come and meet people from around the world.
During our conversation, fan Janice described attending a Formula E event as an “international cultural exchange.” And she’s absolutely right. It’s a place where people from around the world, of all backgrounds, come together to celebrate not just electric racing, but friendship, diversity, and a shared interest.
“Came here for the cars and drivers, stayed for everything else”, Janice summarised beautifully.
Friendships, whether those are in person or on social media, that allow us to celebrate good races and commiserate races that may not have gone the way one was hoping for, can build a community and camaraderie among fans. A camaraderie that can find its way out of social media and into the real world. It really is a wonderful way to connect the world (as previously written about in more detail here).
Next Formula E Race: Shanghai, May 30 & 31
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