Sam Bird hails Formula E Gen4 is a game-changer for the series

As Formula E approaches the midpoint of its 12th campaign—the final season for the current Gen3 Evo machinery—anticipation is building for the series' next regulatory cycle. Former Formula E driver Sam Bird has offered a glowing endorsement of the upcoming Gen4 car, describing the machine as a true "game-changer" for the all-electric championship.

Technical leap forward

These performance metrics signal a major shift in the series' trajectory. Projections suggest that lap times for the Gen4 era will fall between those of Formula 1 and Formula 2, positioning the championship as a formidable force in single-seater racing.

Testing and development

Having recently returned from testing the car himself, Bird is clearly impressed by its capabilities. “The Gen3 car has been good, but the Gen4 car — I've just come back from testing it — is a beast,” Bird remarked on Lucas Stewart's YouTube channel. “600 kW, all-wheel drive. It's equivalent to about 815+ hp. This thing will do well over 200 mph. It's a game-changer.”

The path to growth

Bird believes that the Gen4 era will be the catalyst for the series to reach the next level in both technology and popularity. He emphasized the importance of the championship's current strategic approach to expansion, noting that sustainable growth is preferable to rapid, spending-heavy scaling.

“I think what Formula E can do is exactly what it's doing,” Bird said. “Growing slowly is important, because if it tries to grow too quickly, you can only do that by spending money. We need big manufacturers.”

Looking ahead, Bird is confident that the performance of the new machinery will resonate with a wider audience. “I think it's in the Gen4 era that we'll see a lot of fans really enjoying Formula E for what it is: a top-line, fast single-seater racing series,” he added.