Formula E's new partnership with Bridgestone could see its Gen4 car surpass Formula 1 in wet conditions, according to test driver James Rossiter. Speaking at the tyre manufacturer's factory in Rome, Rossiter claimed the all-electric series already has machinery capable of laying down more power than F1 cars in the rain.
Bridgestone returns to FIA World Championship racing
The announcement marks Bridgestone's return to FIA World Championship motorsport, having supplied tyres to F1 between 1997 and 2010. Rossiter, who was a test driver at Honda during that period, has driven every generation of Formula E car and helped develop the Gen4 machine, which will make its competitive debut in December.
Rossiter told invited media, including Express Sport, that the progress has exceeded expectations. "It has overachieved, I think, everyone's expectations. The innovation has been massive in this space," he said.
Wet tyre promises faster racing in the rain
For the first time, Formula E will have access to a tyre specifically designed for wet racing. Bridgestone's 'Typhoon' tyre is expected to make the Gen4 car the fastest racing machine ever in wet conditions. Rossiter, who competed against Lewis Hamilton in the junior ranks, expressed confidence in its performance.
"I'm willing to say this on record: that if it rains heavily, and you have a Formula 1 car on a full wet tyre, and I, a 43-year-old man, went out in a Gen 4 car with a set of Bridgestone tyres on it, I'm very confident I'm fastest. Comfortably. Comfortably faster than a Formula 1 car in the wet," he said.
Weather disruptions addressed
Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds said the new tyre removes the weather as a variable, though races may still be cancelled if visibility is too low. "The tyre takes away the variable of the weather. If it's quite extreme wet weather, this tyre will still allow us to race," he said.
Dodds added that the FIA will not stage a race if conditions are too dangerous, but the tyre will not be the reason for a cancellation. "Providing they're able to put on a race with the other factors, the tyre will not be the reason why we can't race," he concluded.
