Formula E’s Shanghai debut hit a peculiar snag as five cars halted early in practice one due to a suspected spec RESS battery software update issue. Drivers including Dan Ticktum, Pascal Wehrlein, Nyck de Vries, Antonio Felix da Costa, and Sergio Sette Camara found themselves powerless just minutes into the session on a modified Formula 1 circuit in China.
The glitch prompted a 45-minute red flag period, with suspicions pointing towards a mandated software update administered by spec RESS supplier Fortescue WAE. Following adjustments to the software during the break, the session resumed smoothly, allowing all cars to run without further issue.
The incident raised questions about potential links to measures implemented ahead of the recent Berlin E-Prix doubleheaders. Notably, adjustments were made to Attack Mode durations to preserve battery life across successive race weekends.
For the Shanghai races, similar power constraints remained in place, with both events featuring reduced durations of boosted power. Despite the disruptions, Mitch Evans of Jaguar topped the timesheets at the session’s end, closely followed by Norman Nato, Jean-Eric Vergne, Jake Hughes, and Oliver Rowland.
Team principal Roger Griffiths suggested that the updated software introduced in Shanghai likely triggered the session-stopping problems, highlighting the widespread impact across different manufacturers.
Driver Dan Ticktum echoed concerns, hinting at potential braking issues due to the software glitch. The incident underscored the technical intricacies and challenges faced in the rapidly evolving world of Formula E.
