On Tuesday, Formula E announced the first draft of the calendar for next season, between returns and farewells. Between the end of 2024 and the first seven months of 2025, the electric category will play 17 races in 11 different host locations, but Italy will be missing among these.
In fact, in the next championship there will be the return of Miami, as well as that of Indonesia which returns to the calendar after a year of absence due to the concomitance of local elections in the period in which the ePrix should have been held.
The 2025 calendar presents several critical issues, such as the arrangement of the first 5 events, with 5 races in five months, which means losing a good part of that portion of the season in which Formula E could be the protagonist during the winter break of other series. Furthermore, it is very likely that the electric category will clash with the WEC championship again in July, which would pose a problem for several drivers taking part in both championships.
However, there is another noteworthy aspect in next season’s calendar, namely the lack of an Italian stage. Since 2018, Formula E has always visited our country, with the exception of 2020, when the pandemic made it impossible to organize an event of this caliber in the city, so much so that it fell back on Berlin with a six-day race at the airport of Tempelhof. However, the sudden choice of the electric category to abandon the Italian capital for safety reasons at the end of 2023 has opened the door to other scenarios, which among other things need to be organized in a very short time.
Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche
Photo by: Andreas Beil
An ePrix organized in just 3 months
The decision to bid farewell to Rome actually came rather late, so negotiations for a new appointment in Italy were also delayed. Misano entered this scenario and, with its permanent structures, the support of the institutions and good organizational know-how, was able to set up an ePrix in the space of three months. “The relationship with Formula E was excellent and constructive, we collaborated to perform a semi-miracle, that is, setting up a Formula E stage in just over three months from the first conversation,” explained Andrea Albani, Managing Director Misano World Circuit when interviewed from Motorsport.com on the commitment of the Romagna racetrack.
The ePrix which took place in April welcomed a total of around 25 thousand spectators, a figure in line with that of the last event which took place in Rome in 2023. However, this was not enough to find an agreement for the extension of the agreement for at least another season, with the consequence that next year there will be no stage in Italy, which has always been defined as an important market for FE.
As explained by Andrea Albani, the interest from Misano is still alive, but it is clear that there must also be an adequate economic balance to support the activities of the circuit, which has a very busy calendar already hosting numerous events.
The Misano paddock
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Because there was no real negotiation for the renewal
“On our part there is interest, it was a wonderful experience also in terms of feeling with the entire Formula E planet, but we need an economic balance which is the basis of all our activity. MWC has solid private ownership: the Financo Group has invested over 10 million in the circuit’s infrastructure and has projected the structure into the world’s elite of motorsport facilities. Balance is the cornerstone,” added the Managing Director of the Misano track, but also underlining how important cultural and infrastructure growth in terms of sustainable mobility is to maintain this type of event in the long term.
“Honestly there wasn’t a real negotiation [per il rinnovo], but the mutual acknowledgment that at this moment the conditions for organizing an economically balanced event do not exist. Italy must adopt an organic sustainable mobility model, we hope it will happen soon because this generates interest in businesses and consequent support for events”.
An interest that is still alive, so much so that the intention is to think about events that keep alive a relationship with the Formula E board, helping to create a fertile and consolidated environment to attract greater investments towards sustainable mobility and, consequently, attractiveness for companies. This is a key issue, because this would also help to establish events that combine sustainable mobility with sporting competition.
Over the years, the Motor Valley has demonstrated its ability to approach the world of electricity, also through companies in the sector and universities that are launching dedicated programs such as the one established by Ferrari with Unibo for research into the batteries of the future. In the global context, however, a step forward is also needed that is not only linked to the local context: “Formula E is an extraordinary event that needs to ‘land’ in a fertile and receptive territory. Motor Valley is. I know well that the board is committed to finding the possibility of an Italian stage in a short time. We will all have to work to make this possible and above all sustainable”, added Andrea Albani.
Maximilian Günther, Maserati Racing, Maserati Tipo Folgore
Photo by: Andreas Beil
“The institutions of our territory have been very collaborative, as always, and the virtuous system of the Romagna Riviera has demonstrated its ability to be receptive and synergistic. But there is still a long way to go to close the gap compared to the major motorsport events.”
A mix of city and permanent routes
Misano has proposed an excellent alternative so as not to lose Italy during this season after leaving Rome at a critical moment for the category. Since the decision to abandon the capital came late, there would have been little time to organize another GP, which is why the inclusion of the Romagna track seemed like a perfect fit so as not to leave the calendar uncovered a few weeks before the start of the season.
However, it is no secret that Formula E’s intention is to hold races in the city, in order to offer a platform for brands to sponsor their product and engage fans. It’s no surprise that Formula 1 is also trying to follow the same path, with an ever-increasing number of events in the city, although not all fans are welcoming the trend.
It is understandable why the Formula E board is trying to push for a return of the series to the city, perhaps in a large square that can offer numerous promotional opportunities for all the brands involved in terms of sustainability. On the other hand, it is also true that, especially with the performance of the future Gen 4, FE will find itself having to deal with the need for wider and faster tracks to showcase the qualities of the cars. The championship already includes the presence of several permanent and semi-permanent tracks, but some decisions are also surprising.
Antonio Felix da Costa, Porsche, Porsche 99X Electric Gen3, Oliver Rowland, Nissan, Nissan e-4ORCE 04, Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photo by: Andreas Beil
Speaking about Misano’s farewell, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds listed some critical points of the event, such as the fact that it is not very close to an airport, or the type of race, which is highly energy saving with a group race . A style due to the characteristics of the Gen 3, so much so that it has been tested on a large variety of tracks, including Shanghai, which entered the calendar this year like Misano.
For 2025 Miami has been proposed as a great return, above all for the charm that the race can bring to the USA, but the circuit will not be a city one, but rather a permanent one about an hour from the metropolis. It is true that the two circuits are closer to large cities, but at the same time they will present the same problems in terms of energy management. Furthermore, there is also talk of a farewell to London in favor of Silverstone. Finding a balance is fundamental, but with reason.
“As for the choice of city circuits or dedicated facilities, it is a reasoning on which I can only express my opinion: Formula E has risen to a very high competitive level, I imagine the show will have more and more space for the sporting aspect and the facilities they are the ideal location for this, being able to count on all the necessary services. A mix of solutions is probably the ideal path,” added the Managing Director Misano World Circuit. Having not reached an agreement, even on an economic level, Thailand will make its debut next year, although it has yet to be officially announced.
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