What is FE’S attack mode system?

Last weekend’s Ad Diriyah E-prix featured the first use of the attack mode in the ABB FIA Formula E championship.

It is intended to increase strategy and overtaking options in FE now that the championship no longer features car swaps during races.

Drivers must travel through an off-line activation zone, featuring three timing sensors, after arming the attack mode via a button on their steering wheels to access a higher power mode of 225kw.

The offline positioning of the attack mode zone is designed to ensure drivers lose time before getting access to the higher power mode.

Teams are only informed of the duration, minimum usage time and number of activations of the attack mode boost system one hour before each race.

In the Ad Diriyah race, drivers were allowed to arm the system five times as a maximum, with two activations of four minutes permitted per driver. The system is mandatory to use during races.