17/10/2025 14:06
Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo has ruled out the series
continuing to race in London's ExCeL Centre from Gen4, which will
be introduced at the end of 2026 (Season 13). The deal for London's
ExCeL Centre situated east of the UK capital concludes at the end
of the upcoming season, with an extension off the cards. While
other venues on the calendar have been deemed as suitable for Gen4
in various simulator tests, the ExCeL Centre's current layout has
issues which cannot be solved. As explained by Longo, Turns 3 and 4
of the quirky indoor-outdoor track are not suitable for Gen4, with
the increased size, power and speed of the new car making racing in
another venue in the UK capital not possible for 2027. Asked if
Formula E is focused on moving away from the ExCeL, Longo told
select media including RacingNews365 : "Well, at the moment, I will
say that it's challenging. "It's probably that turn three and four
in the ExCeL that makes it very challenging, not to say, almost
impossible for us to remain there. "But the contract actually ends
at the end of this season. The long-term contract we have with
ExCeL, we respected. What's going to happen in in the following
year, obviously we're looking into options as well.
"Unfortunately, that particular turn, it's basically not doable,
not viable to change it. So I don't think ExCeL as such is an
option for us, unless they commit to do massive works that probably
are not even doable. "So, it's the one and only track that we have
this year that I don't think unless they do major changes that we
could continue, basically, on that particular track. So that's why
we have, as you're fully aware, options in the UK." 2028 London
return hopes What has been stressed by Longo, is that the
championship will not leave the UK, with both Silverstone and
Brands Hatch still holding conversations to host the category in
2027. However, the series is working on returning to the capital
itself in 2028 (Season 14), for the second year of Gen4. Asked who
is leading the UK race for 2027 and if there is even a chance it
could fall off the calendar with the exit of the ExCeL, Longo
explained: "I think the UK, for us it's a must. Not only the UK,
but even London. I would say that is a must." "And then no, you're
going to have to allow me not to reply to you. What is my
favourite, or the best contender, at the moment, I think we are
working with both of them. And hopefully we will find a viable
option for London, for Season 14. "Definitely, it's something that
we're working on day and night, we have very defined priorities.
One of them is what we do with the race in London. And we are
building up options, in the team, we're working together with
Liberty and the FIA to fine tune those options. "And trust me,
there is nothing off the table. But the only thing that is off the
table is not racing in London. That is not going to happen. And
there is another priority, which is finding a second racing in the
US."
