Formula E and electric mobility: the future of motorsport for young drivers

Anyone following motorsport in recent years has noticed that Formula E has gone from being an experimental venture to becoming an FIA World Championship, on par with Formula 1 and WEC. The 2025-26 season was the largest in the series' history, with 18 races across 12 cities. For families with children interested in motorsport, this change in status also shifts the right question: it's no longer "driving or engineering?" but "which part of this industry makes sense for my child to explore now?"

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What is Formula E and why has it grown so much?

Formula E is the world championship for 100% electric single-seaters, founded in 2014 by the FIA. It is the first motorsport series to earn the FIA World Championship title for electric vehicles.

The growth isn't just in the calendar. The Gen3 Evo car, used in the 2025-26 season, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) in 1.82 seconds, according to the official FIA Formula E website. For the 2026-27 season, the series introduces the Gen4, with greater power output and expanded battery capacity compared to the Gen3 Evo, according to the FIA.

This technical evolution has a direct consequence for careers: electrical engineering, energy management, and electric powertrain roles, which ten years ago were peripheral in motorsport, have become central positions in top competitive teams.

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What careers does Formula E open for young engineers?

The transition to electric motorsport has created demand for profiles that combine classical technical training (vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, thermodynamics) with mastery of high-performance electrical systems. Those entering the market now need both.

The most sought-after roles by Formula E teams include:

• Electric powertrain engineering: design and optimization of motor, inverter, and energy recovery systems
• Battery engineer: thermal management, charging cycles, and race energy strategy
• Controls engineer: traction control software, regeneration, and energy efficiency
• Data engineer: electric telemetry analysis and integration with race strategy

Parents of young people who have shown an affinity for physics, programming, or electronics often reach this point in their research realizing their child has the right profile for this field, but without knowing which training leads to it. The path to working in Formula 1 and adjacent categories involves a technical foundation that can be built during adolescence, before university.

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How does a motorsport study abroad program prepare you for electric motorsport?

The first real contact with the technical motorsport environment happens well before university. The motorsport study abroad program covers exactly this window: short immersion programs where young people aged 15 to 18 work with racing engineering in real-world contexts, not in generic classrooms.

In Italy, summer camp programs in the Emilia-Romagna region put young people in contact with vehicle dynamics, data analysis, and powertrain fundamentals within a real racing infrastructure environment. Those interested in the electrical side will find specific modules on energy management and propulsion systems. The study abroad program in Italy for young motorsport engineering enthusiasts shows how this format works in practice.

This experience matters because Formula E teams, like F1 teams, look for engineers who arrive at their first job already knowing how to operate at the pace of a paddock. The motorsport engineering summer camp for young people aged 15 to 18 is the kind of experience that transforms a generic interest into a concrete technical reference.

For young people with a specific interest in electric vehicle design, there are also programs connecting electric mobility and design. The article on the next generation of automotive design and electric mobility at summer camp details what this format covers.

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Oxford Brookes and the MSc Electric Motorsport: the university route

For young people approaching their undergraduate degree or who have already graduated, Oxford Brookes University, an official Be Easy partner since May 2026, offers two postgraduate programs directly focused on electric motorsport:

• MSc Electric Motorsport: aimed at engineers with a background in electrical engineering who want to specialize in competitive electric vehicles. It covers electric propulsion systems, real-time control, software, and energy efficiency.
• MSc Racing Engine Systems: the only program in the world with this focus, according to the university itself. It covers racing engine design and the hybrid and electric engines of the future.

The university states that at least one Oxford Brookes graduate is present on every active Formula 1 team, according to official institutional material. The MSc Electric Motorsport is the direct route for those wanting to make this transition. Young people who reach this point with prior experience in motorsport programs abroad have an advantage in their application.

For students arriving at university without the full foundation, the Engineering Foundation Year serves as the entry point through the vocational career program for young people, structuring the trajectory from initial profile to application.

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Frequently asked questions about Formula E and careers in electric motorsport

What differentiates Formula E from Formula 1 from a career perspective?

‍Battery engineer, controls engineer, and electric powertrain positions are roles that grew with the series. Both categories share vehicle dynamics and data, but electric motorsport adds electronics and software as career differentiators.

What is the right age to start exploring electric motorsport?

‍For drivers, karting starts before age 12. For engineers, the most productive window is between 15 and 18 years old, with summer camps that combine driving, simulation, and technical fundamentals, allowing them to enter university with real practical experience.

Does the Oxford Brookes MSc Electric Motorsport require prior motorsport experience?

‍No. The program is aimed at graduates with a background in electrical engineering. The criterion is academic profile. Summer camp or Formula Student experience enriches the CV but is not a formal prerequisite.

How does Formula E affect demand for engineers in the automotive sector overall?

‍Formula E's technical development is transferred to production electric vehicles. Manufacturers competing in the championship use it as a laboratory, so engineers in this field work in both racing and OEM R&D.

What role does studying abroad play for young people who want to pursue a career in electric motorsport?

‍Studying abroad provides early contact with the real motorsport environment. For young people aged 15 to 18, immersion in racing engineering in Europe serves as a vocational test and builds practical experience before university.

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Be Easy: Boutique study abroad consultancy

Be Easy supports families mapping out how their child can enter electric motorsport with the right path from the start. If the interest is building a career in this sector, we have the curation covering everything from summer camp programs for teenagers to the university route at Oxford Brookes, with support from a dedicated senior consultant at every stage. To understand the available options and take the next step, get in touch with us.

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