Formula E has faced a concerning amount of issues with their calendar in recent years, and the 2024/25 season is set to be no different.
Last season, the series had a two-month gap in the calendar from the races in Jeddah to the Sao Paulo ePrix following the cancellation of the Hyderabad ePrix in India, which was poorly received by drivers and teams.
In the 2021/22 season, Formula E was forced to bring in a last-minute race in Marrakesh in June to fill the gap made by the planned Vancouver ePrix, which was postponed and later cancelled.
These calendar troubles are set to continue in Season 11, with the planned event in northern Thailand – a first for the sport – set to collapse.
Jakarta or Miami could become a double-header in the 2024/25 Formula E season after Thailand ePrix plans collapse
It was previously reported that political changes in Thailand put the event in serious doubt, even though the ePrix was never actually disclosed by FE.
FE was said to be desperately trying to salvage the event and keep 16 races on the calendar for the 2024/25 season. Now, according to a report from The Race, they have found ‘no alternative’ for the Thailand ePrix in time for the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting set to be held this week.
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As a result, ‘the date is set to be deleted from the final draft of the calendar’ and leave another two-month gap between the double-header in Jeddah on February 14-15 and the inaugural race at Homestead-Miami on April 12.
There were several alternatives that were looked at to replace Thailand on the calendar, including a return to Sanya in China, but this proved not to be possible.
According to the report, it is ‘unknown’ as to whether the calendar will be reduced to 15 races, with it suggesting that either the events in Jakarta or Miami could become double-headers in order to keep the calendar with the same amount of races as the previous year.
What does another two-month gap in the Formula E calendar mean for the sport?
No matter how it is looked at, another two-month break in the calendar, especially when FE is mostly on its own in terms of racing action during its first three ePrix, is hugely concerning.
Last season’s break was received badly by those in and around the paddock and a second consecutive one could be damaging for the series ‘sportingly’ and commercially’, as the momentum from the first three events from December to February is lost when it returns in April.
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Making either Jakarta or Miami a double-header would give them the 16 races they want, but the issue is when these events are. Miami is the race that is due to come after Thailand, whereas Jakarta is not scheduled until June.
Unless the calendar is rejigged and events are moved forward, the 2024/25 season is set to face a disruption that it could have been avoided, considering that it has been two months since the Thailand ePrix was first reported as unlikely to go ahead.