{"id":65696,"date":"2025-08-14T05:41:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T05:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/65696\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T05:41:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T05:41:07","slug":"f1-legend-reveals-lovely-experience-of-driving-a-formula-e-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/65696\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 legend reveals ‘lovely experience’ of driving a Formula E car"},"content":{"rendered":"

Formula 1<\/a> legend Johnny Herbert has detailed the \u201clovely experience\u201d of driving a Formula E<\/a> car, having recently got behind the wheel of a Gen3 Evo machine.<\/p>\n

Herbert hopped aboard the Lola T001 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, having become an ambassador for the British marque<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Lola chose Formula E as its first major avenue of motorsport upon its return to existence, having been taken over by British businessman Till Bechtolsheimer.<\/p>\n

Partnering with the existing ABT outfit and going into collaboration with Japanese giants Yamaha, the team accomplished the campaign, juggling many uphill tasks.<\/p>\n

Depsite only having taken delivery of a Gen3 Evo mid-last year, Lola was able to still score 32 points in its debut season, as well as one podium, all coming from veteran Lucas di Grassi.<\/p>\n

Three-time Grand Prix winner Herbert, speaking exclusively to Motorsport Week, revealed what the experience of driving an all-electric racing car for the first time was like.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the first time [driving a Formula E car], and it was the first time with the Halo,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never even driven a Halo before.\u00a0So that was interesting, just doing that.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Halo, you don\u2019t even know it\u2019s there. It\u2019s quite nice to actually use it to get in and get out, pull yourself out!\u00a0So that\u2019s the positive of it. And then there\u2019s the safety aspect.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then it\u2019s the actual driving of the car.\u00a0We initially started with 300 kilowatts.\u00a0Then I sort of got bored of that quite quickly. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo we went to 350.\u00a0And the wonderful four-wheel drive launch that you get off the start line in Goodwood was really, really nice.\u00a0And then I got a bit bored of that!<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I thought, let\u2019s have a little bit more fun.\u00a0So actually, we did Attack Mode, but without the four-wheel drive and just had rear-wheel drive.\u00a0And that was really good to see how long I could do the burnouts off of the line. So a really lovely experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe three-time GP-winner explained the differences of driving an all-electric racing car. Image: Matt Sills<\/p>\n

Herbert explains newfound \u2018understanding\u2019 on Formula E challenge<\/p>\n

Herbert further explained how he now has a newfound understanding of how it is to tackle a Formula E car, which will commence its final season of the Gen3 era in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a bit more of an understanding of what drivers are feeling when they\u2019re actually on the racetrack,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s [the Goodwood climb] sort of up a drive, so it\u2019s a little bit different. <\/p>\n

\u201cCornering, I have nearly no idea at all.\u00a0But I do have a closer understanding of what the guys are going through in the cockpit. So I was very fortunate to have that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herbert revealed that he will have another stint in the car soon \u201cwith a bit of luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I loved it,\u201d he added. \u201cAll I wanted to play with, because obviously, we got the regen paddles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then you\u2019ve got the two paddles at the top where you can sort of do the finer tuning.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I wanted to feel it. And unfortunately, it wasn\u2019t really the right place to feel that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the fundamentals underneath the car, no aerodynamics, and just feeling how the car was.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very slick, I have to say, in a straight line. Very, very slick.\u00a0And the wonderful torque you get low down.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then that electrification sort of linear power band that they have was nice to feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE \u2013 The unique reason Oliver Rowland may waive right to take #1 plate in Formula E
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