David Coulthard Ready to Conquer New Formula E Monster in Latest Test

David Coulthard tested Formula E’s Gen4 car on Monaco’s streets ahead of the E‑Prix, delivering an emphatic verdict on a package that materially shifts performance and drivability.

The run came two years after his Gen3 Evo sample in Monaco, and the contrast underlines a wholesale step in powertrain, aero efficiency, and deployment freedom. As Formula E finalises its Gen4 car parameters, the emphasis is on usable performance and control.

Gen4 brings permanent four-wheel drive, a revised body, and adjustable downforce, all aimed at stability under braking and traction out of slow corners.

The car delivers 600 kW, equivalent to 815 bhp, with 0–100 km/h in 1.8 seconds and a stated top speed of 335 km/h. The packaging mirrors conventional single-seaters more closely.

Pace projections are ambitious. On dry circuits, expectations place Gen4 at least on par with Formula 2. In the wet, targets suggest performance approaching contemporary Formula 1 benchmarks.

Coulthard highlighted clear gains in aerodynamic consistency and tyre performance. He suggested a current Formula E driver would find several seconds over Gen3 Evo pace, assuming comparable conditions.

Monaco limited the exploration of that ceiling. With close barriers and little margin, Coulthard prioritised risk management over outright pace to avoid a costly brush with the walls.

Sainte Devote typified the compromise. He braked earlier than on a permanent circuit, sacrificing rotation and exit traction to maintain safety, which inevitably blunted lap-time potential.

Even so, the impression was unequivocal. Coulthard called the experience “awesome” and pushed for another outing on a traditional circuit with proper run-off to probe the car’s limits.

For teams, Gen4’s four-wheel drive and adjustable aero demand new setup philosophies. Torque distribution, braking stability, and energy deployment strategies will define competitive priorities, especially on traction‑critical layouts.

The learning curve will be steep for drivers such as António Félix da Costa, with tyre warm-up, mapping, and regen balance central to extracting peak performance across changing conditions.

Manufacturer engagement remains pivotal as the ruleset beds in, underscored by projects like the evolving Opel Formula E project. The competitive season is slated to launch around mid‑December.

Coulthard’s sample lap window was brief, but the signal is clear: Gen4 shifts Formula E’s performance baseline and raises strategic complexity, promising a faster, more demanding championship phase.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.