Formula E arrived at Jarama at a particularly tense moment between its drivers and the FIA, after the racers sent a letter to Federation President Mohammed Ben Sulayem voicing complaints about race management. The document, revealed by The Race and signed by the entire grid, criticizes what they see as poor stewardship, race direction, and enforcement of sporting regulations.
The drivers prefer to call their concerns “recommendations,” but they stem from several incidents this season that have led them to conclude there is a lack of understanding of Formula E’s unique racing style. Lucas Di Grassi, one of the series’ most experienced drivers, spearheaded the initiative as the drivers’ group representative, achieving unanimous support.
Dan Ticktum of Cupra Kiro commented: “It was the right thing to do. Team bosses have met with the race director (Marek Hanaczewski) and the stewards several times, and nothing changed. It’s good that the drivers came together and spoke up. This is our life, and we sacrifice a lot to be in this position. If the sport isn’t being run well or we think it can be improved, we need to help.” The Briton believes Formula E needs different rules because the racing is highly specific and FIA regulations don’t fit.
“This year has been one of the worst in terms of stewards’ decisions,” said Pepe Martí, a rookie who has already experienced inconsistency. “I’ve had six races and I’ve seen things I disagree with. I received the biggest penalty in FIA championship history…” He referred to the São Paulo incident: four license points, a 60-place grid penalty for Mexico that resulted in a last-place start and a 10-second stop-go penalty. “I agree with the others about inconsistency. You can see it as criticism or as a recommendation. There are professional people working for the FIA and the championship. I respect their work—it’s not easy, especially in this series—but we want the championship to be more respected.”
What do the teams think? Xavi Serra, Cupra Racing director, said: “It was a driver initiative. You may agree or disagree, but there’s no need for extreme criticism. They expressed an opinion, more or less accurate, and they all agreed, so the FIA could hear it. There are things I agree with and others I don’t, but it’s positive that there can be an exchange of views on how Formula E is different from a typical single-seater race.” Ben Sulayem was expected to visit Madrid but did not attend.