The Speed of the Future: How Formula E Is Redefining Motorsport

Julua Pallé and Anastasiia Lutcenko, The 11th Annual Sustainability Week, The Economist Impact, London

An interview with Julia Pallé on Formula E, technological innovation, and the new culture of motorsport

London. On the sidelines of the Economist Impact Sustainability Week, we met with Julia Pallé,  VP, Sustainability at the world’s first fully-electric single-seater racing series, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

 

Since the launch of the electric racing series, she has been part of the project, witnessing how an idea that once seemed experimental gradually evolved into a global sporting and technological platform.

 

Today, Formula E is more than a racing championship. It is a laboratory for automotive innovation, a marketing stage for some of the world’s largest brands, and a space where the future of mobility is actively discussed.

 

Perhaps equally symbolic is the fact that one of the leading voices of the championship is a woman holding a senior position in motorsport—an industry long considered a predominantly male territory.

How do you explain the growing popularity of electric motorsport among younger audiences?

The ability to see the world differently and to embrace technological change is very characteristic of younger generations.

You can clearly see this in the Formula E audience. Our spectators are significantly younger than those of traditional motorsport championships. Most of them are under 35, and many fans are even teenagers.

For them, electric mobility is not a controversial topic. They see it as the natural evolution of technology. Electric vehicles are easier to use, technologically more efficient, and often simpler to drive.

There are many studies—from Bloomberg to KPMG—showing that by 2050 around 75% of passenger vehicles worldwide could be electric. And that makes sense: in twenty years, today’s teenagers will be the primary drivers.

At the same time, the relationship with cars is changing. Young people increasingly see mobility as a service—car sharing, autonomous driving, and flexible transport models. For them, owning a car is no longer a necessity.

In places like Monaco, car culture has traditionally been associated with powerful engines and the sound of racing machines. How does Formula E interact with that culture?

Of course, there is a strong tradition of classic motorsport. Many people love the sound of engines, the atmosphere of racing, and everything that comes with it.

But we never tried to replace those traditions. Formula E was created as a different form of motorsport—one adapted to the modern world and a new audience.

For example, our races are shorter, usually around 45 minutes. We understand that people consume content differently today. Not everyone wants to spend two hours watching a race.

So we designed a more dynamic format: more overtakes, more action in a shorter time frame. It is a championship where something is always happening.

And that is one of the reasons why Formula E has become one of the fastest-growing motorsport championships in the world.

— Many people say Formula E plays an important role in technological development. How accurate is that?

It is very accurate.

We often describe Formula E as an innovation laboratory for the automotive industry.

Manufacturers use the championship as a platform to develop technologies that later appear in production vehicles.

For example, the Stellantis group, which competes in the championship, has noted that technologies developed for racing cars can reach consumer vehicles in as little as four years.

Another example is Jaguar. A few seasons ago, the company introduced a software update for the I-PACE that increased battery range by roughly 10%. The solutions behind that improvement were developed through experience gained in Formula E.

In that sense, technologies tested on the racetrack gradually become part of everyday mobility.

Can motorsport influence the way people think about sustainability?

We are seeing that it can.

According to our research, more than 80% of Formula E fans become more interested in electric vehicles after engaging with the championship.

They also tend to perceive our partner brands as more innovative and forward-thinking.

But it is important to remember that people come to racing for emotion. Sport has to be exciting and enjoyable.

Our task is to connect those emotions with a broader purpose. Formula E was created to accelerate the transition toward electric mobility and more sustainable lifestyles.

That is why we power our events with renewable energy, eliminate single-use plastics, and implement social programs in the cities where races take place.

Can international competitions like Formula E also play a social role?

I would not exaggerate our influence, but sometimes we do become part of broader societal changes.

For example, when women were first allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, we organized a special test session where only female drivers were behind the wheel of our racing cars.

It was a symbolic gesture—to show that opportunities are open to everyone.

Another powerful moment happened during a concert we organized in Riyadh. Around that time, the law had changed to allow men and women to dance together at public events. At the beginning of the concert, men stood on one side and women on the other. But gradually they started moving closer. And at some point, everyone was dancing together.  It became a very powerful symbol of change.

— Which new cities will appear in the championship calendar?

Very soon we will host our first race in Madrid, which is particularly symbolic for us because Formula E was founded by two Spanish entrepreneurs.

We are also returning to China, which today is one of the global leaders in electric mobility.

And we are exploring the possibility of adding another race in the United States, although that is something we cannot officially announce yet.

— What role does Monaco play in the development of the championship?

We have been very fortunate to have the support of Prince Albert II. He has been one of Formula E’s most consistent supporters from the very beginning.

Thanks to that support, we race in Monaco regularly. Moreover, Monaco allows us to organize double-header events—something that Formula One does not have.

It shows that the Principality genuinely wants to support the development of electric motorsport.

— What achievement of Formula E do you consider the most important?

One of our most significant achievements is obtaining B Corp certification.

Formula E became the first global sports championship to receive this status, which confirms that we meet high standards in sustainability and responsible business practices.

— And the biggest challenge?

Achieving carbon neutrality.

It is a difficult task for any business. But for us it is even more complex because the championship continues to grow—more races, more partners, more spectators.

We call this challenge “Project X”: how to continue growing while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint.

But challenges like this are exactly what make our work truly exciting.