London ePrix
The London ePrix is a prominent double-header racing event in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the premier all-electric single-seater motorsport series organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).[1] It features high-performance electric race cars competing on temporary street circuits in London, England, emphasizing sustainable technology and urban racing innovation. Debuting on 27 and 28 June 2015 at Battersea Park as the season finale of Formula E's inaugural 2014–15 campaign, the event marked the series' first visit to the British capital and helped crown Nelson Piquet Jr. as the initial drivers' champion.[2][3] The second edition took place on 2 and 3 July 2016 at the same 2.925 km Battersea Park circuit, again serving as the season closer where Buemi defended his title with a victory in the opening race.[4] Following legal challenges from local residents over environmental impacts at the park, the event was absent from the calendar until 2021, when it relocated to the ExCeL London exhibition and convention centre in the Docklands area.[5] This move introduced a groundbreaking 2.077 km indoor-outdoor hybrid track, the first of its kind in motorsport, weaving through the venue's halls and surrounding streets to create a compact yet challenging layout with 20 turns.[6][7] Since its return, the London ePrix has solidified its status as a key fixture, frequently hosting the season finale and delivering dramatic conclusions, such as Jake Dennis securing the 2022–23 drivers' title in a rain-soaked 2023 race.[8] The 2024–25 edition, held on 26 and 27 July 2025 as rounds 15 and 16 at ExCeL, saw Nick Cassidy claim double victories for Jaguar TCS Racing, underscoring the event's role in showcasing cutting-edge electric vehicle performance and British motorsport heritage.[9][10] Across its history, the ePrix has highlighted Formula E's commitment to zero-emission racing, attracting global attention to London's evolution as a hub for green technology and high-stakes competition.[11]Overview and history
Introduction
The London ePrix consists of rounds in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, an all-electric single-seater racing series organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), held annually in London since its inaugural event in 2015.[11] These races showcase sustainable motorsport by utilizing battery-electric powertrains, aligning with Formula E's mission to advance electric vehicle technology and urban mobility solutions.[1] Each ePrix follows a standard format of approximately 45 minutes plus one lap, contested on temporary street circuits that blend urban environments with high-speed racing. Since 2016, the event has typically featured a double-header weekend, with two races per visit, enabling teams and drivers to adapt strategies across back-to-back competitions under varying conditions.[4] A total of 14 races have been held across seven seasons (2014–15, 2015–16, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25), with absences from 2017 to 2020 attributed to challenges in securing suitable venues and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the cancellation of planned 2020 events.[5] As one of Formula E's flagship events in Europe, the London ePrix often serves as the season finale, as seen in the 2023–2025 campaigns, where it has decided championships amid intense competition.[12] It draws significant crowds, underscoring its role in promoting electric racing in a densely populated historic city while highlighting innovations in zero-emission transport.[13] The event's urban setting emphasizes Formula E's commitment to sustainable development, integrating races into iconic London locales to demonstrate the viability of electric mobility in everyday environments.[13]Historical development
The London ePrix was introduced in 2015 as part of the inaugural season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, aimed at showcasing sustainable electric racing in major global cities to promote clean energy technologies and urban mobility. London was selected for its status as a world-leading metropolis committed to environmental goals, including reducing carbon emissions through initiatives like the London Sustainable Development Commission, aligning with Formula E's mission to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles.[14][11] The first two editions took place at Battersea Park in southwest London, serving as the season finale. In 2015, the event featured a double-header on June 27 and 28, marking the championship's dramatic conclusion with Nelson Piquet Jr. clinching the drivers' title in the second race despite not winning either. The 2016 edition, also a double-header on July 2 and 3, proceeded successfully, with local hero Sam Bird securing victory in the opening race, though controversy arose in the finale when title rivals Sébastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi collided. These events highlighted Formula E's innovative format but also drew early attention to logistical challenges in urban settings.[15][16] Following 2016, the London ePrix entered a hiatus from 2017 to 2020 due to difficulties in securing a suitable venue after opposition to continued use of Battersea Park. Environmental groups, including the Battersea Park Action Group, protested the races' impact on the public park, citing noise pollution, safety risks, and damage to green spaces, leading to a judicial review and Formula E's decision to relocate after the 2016 event. Efforts to host in alternative locations, such as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the 2019–20 season, were explored but ultimately abandoned amid ongoing logistical hurdles and the global COVID-19 pandemic, which suspended the championship and cancelled the planned London round at ExCeL London.[17][15][18] The series returned in 2021 with a double-header at ExCeL London on July 24 and 25, featuring a pioneering indoor-outdoor hybrid circuit around the Royal Docks to meet regulatory requirements for noise and space in a built-up area. This venue became the standard for subsequent editions, enabling consistent double-headers post-pandemic and adapting to urban constraints. From 2023 onward, the London ePrix was elevated to the season finale, underscoring its prestige, with circuit modifications such as the 2023 layout shortening to 2.086 km by removing turns 17 and 18 to accommodate nearby construction. The 2025 edition, held July 26 and 27 as the Marvel Fantastic Four London ePrix, featured sponsorship tie-ins with Marvel Studios' upcoming film, further enhancing its cultural appeal.[19][20][21] Overall, the London ePrix has significantly elevated Formula E's visibility in the UK, with British drivers securing six victories across the fourteen races held through 2025, including multiple wins by Sam Bird and Jake Dennis, fostering national pride and attracting larger audiences to the sustainable racing format.[22]Circuits
Battersea Park Circuit
The Battersea Park Circuit was a temporary street circuit located in Battersea Park, a public green space in south London overlooking the River Thames.[23] The 2.925 km anti-clockwise track featured 17 turns, weaving through the parkland with a mix of tight hairpins, chicanes, high-speed bends, and a 493 m pit straight running parallel to the Thames, providing opportunities for overtaking.[4] Designed by Formula E's London event team in collaboration with British architect Simon Gibbons, it incorporated low-speed technical sections alongside faster zones to test driver skill on a compact urban layout.[23][24] As the inaugural venue for the London ePrix, the circuit hosted four races in Formula E's early seasons, serving as the season finale for both the 2014–15 and 2015–16 championships.[7] It debuted with a double-header on June 27–28, 2015, comprising rounds 10 and 11 of season 1, followed by another double-header on July 2–3, 2016, for rounds 9 and 10 of season 2.[25][26] This marked the first purpose-built Formula E track constructed within a public park, adapting the historic 1850s landscape for electric racing while emphasizing the series' urban integration.[13] The layout's challenges included variable weather affecting grip on the park's surfaces and its proximity to residential areas, which generated noise complaints from amplified announcements and vehicle sounds despite the electric powertrains' relative quietness.[27][28] The circuit's use sparked significant controversies, primarily environmental and community concerns over disruption to the heritage-protected park.[29] Locals and conservation groups, including the Open Spaces Society, protested the temporary closures, tarmacking of grass areas, removal of planting, and overall commercialization of public space for two one-hour races per event, arguing it contradicted Formula E's sustainability ethos.[30][31] A post-2015 review by Wandsworth Borough Council highlighted issues like restricted access, potential damage to paths and turf, and ongoing noise disturbances, leading to objections from five community groups ahead of the 2016 return. These pressures culminated in an agreement between Formula E organizers and local authorities to abandon the venue after the 2016 races, shifting future London events elsewhere to mitigate further impact.[32] In its legacy, the Battersea Park Circuit established a model for hosting Formula E in urban green spaces, demonstrating the feasibility of electric racing in constrained environments while underscoring sustainability trade-offs, such as balancing zero-emission innovation against ecological disruption in protected areas.[33][29] The experience informed later park-based circuits in the series but highlighted the need for greener event practices to align with Formula E's environmental goals.ExCeL London Circuit
The ExCeL London Circuit is a temporary street circuit located around the ExCeL exhibition centre in the Royal Docks area of east London, Newham.[22] The track spans approximately 2.09 km and features 20 turns, blending indoor sections within the exhibition halls and outdoor segments along the docksides.[34] Originally designed at 2.252 km with 22 turns for its debut in 2021, the layout was shortened and refined in subsequent years to optimize racing dynamics.[5] Since its introduction, the circuit has hosted Formula E double-header races annually, totaling 10 events from July 24–25, 2021, through July 26–27, 2025.[12] It stands out as the series' only indoor-outdoor track, allowing races in various weather conditions due to the covered exhibition spaces.[35] Key features include a high-speed outdoor straight along the docks for overtaking opportunities and tight indoor chicanes that demand precise handling on polished concrete surfaces.[34] In 2023, modifications removed a hairpin at turn 16 and combined turns 17–18 into a single corner, shortening the lap slightly to 2.086 km while enhancing flow and safety for the faster Gen3 cars.[5] Compared to the previous Battersea Park venue, the ExCeL circuit offers reduced environmental impact by utilizing existing urban infrastructure rather than natural parkland, enabling year-round accessibility without seasonal restrictions.[36] It accommodates over 30,000 spectators per day, with total weekend attendance exceeding 50,000 in recent years.[37] For the 2025 season finale, enhancements included expanded entertainment zones within the new Immerse LDN district, featuring gaming simulators, live music stages, and interactive fan experiences integrated into the exhibition halls.[38] This setup marks the first Formula E circuit to fully incorporate an exhibition centre for fan zones, with indoor areas repurposed for hospitality, autograph sessions, and educational displays on electric mobility.[39] Recent updates for 2024–2025 involved minor track tweaks, such as surface resurfacing for improved grip and integration with venue expansions.[40]Results
Race editions
The London ePrix has hosted 13 races since its debut in 2015, initially as a single event before adopting a double-header format from 2016 onward, with no races held from 2017 to 2019 due to legal challenges from local residents and scheduling changes, and the planned 2020 editions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These races have taken place at two venues: the Battersea Park Circuit for the inaugural years and the ExCeL London Circuit for all subsequent events. Key outcomes, including winners and notable margins, are summarized below, highlighting pivotal moments such as championship deciders.| Year | Date(s) | Venue | Pole Position | Winner (Team) | Fastest Lap (Driver, Team) | Notes (Including Winning Margin Where Notable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | June 28 | Battersea Park Circuit | Sébastien Buemi (Renault e.dams) | Sam Bird (DS Virgin Racing) | Lucas di Grassi (Abt Audi Sport) | Single race as season finale; Bird won by 0.629 seconds over Jérôme d'Ambrosio (Dragon Racing); Nelson Piquet Jr. (China Racing) clinched the inaugural drivers' title in 4th place.[41][25] |
| 2016 I | July 2 | Battersea Park Circuit | Nicolas Prost (Renault e.dams) | Nicolas Prost (Renault e.dams) | Nelson Piquet Jr. (NextEV TCR) | Prost dominated from pole, winning by 4.056 seconds over Bruno Senna (Mahindra Racing); final race at Battersea following local opposition. |
| 2016 II | July 3 | Battersea Park Circuit | Sam Bird (DS Virgin Racing) | Nicolas Prost (Renault e.dams) | Sébastien Buemi (Renault e.dams) | Prost secured a double victory by 1.832 seconds over Bird; Buemi's fastest lap clinched the drivers' title by 2 points over di Grassi after a first-lap collision.[42][43] |
| 2021 I | July 24 | ExCeL London Circuit | Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes) | Jake Dennis (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) | Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing) | Debut at ExCeL's indoor-outdoor layout; Dennis won by 7.521 seconds over Frijns after a safety car restart.[44] |
| 2021 II | July 25 | ExCeL London Circuit | Alex Lynn (Mahindra Racing) | Alex Lynn (Mahindra Racing) | Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) | Lynn converted pole to victory by 4.718 seconds over Evans; first win for Mahindra since 2017.[45] |
| 2022 I | July 30 | ExCeL London Circuit | Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) | Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) | Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Techeetah) | Dennis took pole and led every lap, winning by 14.396 seconds over Lucas di Grassi (ROKiT Venturi Racing); season finale. |
| 2022 II | July 31 | ExCeL London Circuit | Lucas di Grassi (ROKiT Venturi Racing) | Lucas di Grassi (ROKiT Venturi Racing) | António Félix da Costa (DS Techeetah) | Di Grassi won from pole by 0.492 seconds over Dennis in a photo-finish; Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Techeetah) secured the drivers' title. |
| 2023 I | July 29 | ExCeL London Circuit | Jake Dennis (Andretti Global) | Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) | Jake Dennis (Andretti Global) | Evans won by 0.549 seconds over Dennis after a late charge; Dennis retained the drivers' title in 2nd. |
| 2023 II | July 30 | ExCeL London Circuit | Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) | Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) | Sacha Fenestraz (Nissan Formula E Team) | Cassidy overcame a penalty to win by 0.716 seconds over Evans; Envision Racing clinched the teams' title. |
| 2024 I | July 20 | ExCeL London Circuit | Jake Dennis (Andretti Global) | Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche Formula E Team) | Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) | Wehrlein won by 3.701 seconds over Dennis; championship lead swapped between Wehrlein and Dennis. |
| 2024 II | July 21 | ExCeL London Circuit | Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) | Oliver Rowland (Nissan Formula E Team) | Maximilian Günther (Maserati MSG Racing) | Rowland passed Wehrlein late to win by 0.124 seconds; Wehrlein secured the drivers' title in 2nd. |
| 2025 I | July 26 | ExCeL London Circuit | Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) | Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing) | Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche Formula E Team) | Cassidy won by 13.581 seconds over Nyck de Vries (Mahindra Racing); season finale opener under Marvel sponsorship.[46] |
| 2025 II | July 27 | ExCeL London Circuit | Dan Ticktum (Nissan Formula E Team) | Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing) | Jake Dennis (Andretti Global) | Cassidy completed a double win by 4.217 seconds over de Vries, marking his third consecutive London victory overall and bolstering Jaguar's strong season performance. |
Repeat winners (drivers)
Several drivers have achieved multiple victories at the London ePrix, demonstrating consistent performance on the challenging urban circuits used in the event. As of the 2025 season, three drivers hold this distinction, with a total of seven repeat wins among them out of the 13 races held since the event's inception in 2015. These achievements highlight the competitive nature of Formula E in London, where home advantage has played a role for British drivers, contributing to five total wins by UK nationals.[22] Nicolas Prost secured the first repeat wins in London ePrix history by sweeping the inaugural double-header in 2016 at Battersea Park, driving for Renault e.dams. His victories in both Race 1 on July 2 and Race 2 on July 3 marked the debut of a double-header format in Formula E and helped secure the teams' championship for Renault e.dams, underscoring Prost's early reliability in the series' formative years.[47][26] Jake Dennis, a British driver, claimed two consecutive wins in the opening races of the double-headers in 2021 and 2022 at the ExCeL London Circuit, both with Andretti teams (BMW i Andretti in 2021 and Avalanche Andretti in 2022). His July 24, 2021, victory was his second of the season, showcasing tactical prowess in energy management, while the July 30, 2022, win further solidified his status as a leading British performer, tying the record for most wins by a home driver at the time.[48][49] Nick Cassidy holds the record for the most London ePrix victories with three, spanning different teams and demonstrating his adaptability. Representing Envision Racing, he won Race 2 on July 30, 2023, in wet conditions that tested driver skill amid red flags and chaos. Cassidy then swept both 2025 races at ExCeL—Race 1 on July 26 and Race 2 on July 27—driving for Jaguar TCS Racing, clinching the double-header in dominant fashion during the season finale and contributing to Jaguar's strong home performance.[50][9][51]| Driver | Wins | Races (Year) | Teams Involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Cassidy | 3 | 2023 II, 2025 I & II | Envision Racing, Jaguar TCS |
| Nicolas Prost | 2 | 2016 I & II | Renault e.dams |
| Jake Dennis | 2 | 2021 I, 2022 I | BMW i Andretti, Avalanche Andretti |
Repeat winners (constructors)
Jaguar TCS Racing holds the record for the most London ePrix constructor victories with three, achieved in the Gen3 era. The British outfit's first win came in the 2023 Hankook London E-Prix I via Mitch Evans, before Nick Cassidy delivered a dominant double in the 2025 Marvel Fantastic Four London E-Prix I and II, securing the races amid the season finale's high-stakes environment. This performance highlighted Jaguar's optimized powertrain integration, contributing to their overall Constructors' Championship contention in 2025.[52][46][9] Renault e.dams recorded two wins during the Formula E series' early Gen1 era, with double wins in the 2016 Visa London ePrix courtesy of Nicolas Prost in both races. These successes underscored Renault e.dams' technological superiority in battery management and powertrain efficiency, which propelled the team to the inaugural Formula E Constructors' Championship in 2015 and a repeat title in 2016.[26][53] Avalanche Andretti Formula E, evolving from BMW i Andretti Motorsport, recorded two wins through Jake Dennis in the 2021 Heineken London E-Prix I and the 2022 SABIC London E-Prix I. These victories emphasized the team's chassis development and driver coaching strategies during the Gen2 transition, though they did not translate to broader seasonal dominance. No other constructor has exceeded one victory at the London ePrix across its 13 editions to date.[48][49]| Constructor | Wins | Years and Races Won |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar TCS Racing | 3 | 2023 I, 2025 I, 2025 II |
| Renault e.dams | 2 | 2016 I, 2016 II |
| Avalanche Andretti Formula E | 2 | 2021 I, 2022 I |