Formula E: Designing the Future

Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team

As Formula E enters its 12^th season, the championship finds itself in a fascinating new phase-one where aesthetics and innovation go hand in hand. Every car on the grid represents not just engineering brilliance, but also design intent. 

The new 2025-26 grid reflects this evolution perfectly. From the luminous purples and blues of Porsche’s bold new 99X Electric, to the sleek refinement of Jaguar, Nissan, and Maserati, Formula E teams are using livery design to communicate what electric racing stands for: progress, identity, and emotion. 

When Formula E launched in 2014, its early designs often borrowed from traditional racing aesthetics—bright sponsor logos, heavy color blocks, and visual layouts optimized for daylight circuits. But as the series matured, and especially as it moved toward night races and urban street venues, a new design language began to emerge. 

The Gen3 era has amplified that transformation. The car itself, with its angular bodywork and open rear design, demanded a different visual approach—one rooted in light, contrast, and movement. Designers began experimenting with reflective surfaces, neon accents, and gradient transitions that interact with LED lighting and city backdrops. The result is a grid that feels alive, futuristic, and unmistakably electric. 

Formula E’s design identity is now defined by energy. Each team interprets that energy differently—some through bright, kinetic color palettes, others through elegant minimalism. But all share the same underlying goal: to make sustainability exciting. 

The Emotional Side of Design 

Design in motorsport is not just visual—it’s emotional storytelling. A car’s livery becomes a symbol of everything a team represents, whether that’s Porsche’s precision, Jaguar’s elegance, or Mahindra’s heritage. 

For fans, it’s often the first point of connection. Before the lights go out or a tire hits the tarmac, the color, shape, and feel of a car define its personality. A great livery can turn a machine into a movement. 

That’s especially important for Formula E. As a relatively young championship competing for attention alongside established series, visual design plays a crucial role in building identity. Each team’s car acts as a moving billboard for both their brand and the wider mission of electric racing—to make sustainability aspirational. 

Porsche: Precision Meets Emotion 

Few teams have embraced this philosophy as fully as Porsche. Their new 99X Electric is a dramatic departure from the clear white-and-red scheme that defined their early Formula E seasons. The new look—a deep, matte black base laced with violet and cyan streaks—feels like a turning point in the brand’s electric story. 

The layered colors give the impression of motion even at a standstill, while the glowing accents emphasize technology and precision. It’s confident, daring, and distinct—words that perfectly describe Porsche’s growing presence in Formula E. 

The design also speaks to a deeper idea: Porsche’s recognition that electric racing isn’t just about speed—it’s about culture. By reimagining its aesthetic for a younger, more digitally-native audience, Porsche is aligning its motorsport image with the future of the automotive industry. 

From Engineering to Art 

Behind the scenes, modern motorsport design has become a collaboration between engineers, branding teams, and digital artists. Every curve, line, and reflection is considered not only for visual appeal but for how it performs under lighting, camera angles, and live broadcast conditions. 

Designers now work with simulation tools to see how colors interact with motion blur or how details appear under floodlights in cities like Tokyo or London. The process sits at the intersection of art and data—every pixel carries purpose. 

This level of attention makes sense in Formula E, where the series’ identity depends on connecting high technology with human emotion. The design isn’t a finishing touch—it’s part of the message. 

Redefining What Motorsport Looks Like 

Beyond individual liveries, Formula E as a collective has created a new aesthetic standard in motorsport. Its cars no longer just advertise sponsors; they represent ideas. 

Where traditional racing liveries have often leaned on heritage, Formula E looks forward, embodying a clean, electric, and tech-forward world. This visual approach helps distinguish the championship not only as a form of entertainment but as a reflection of global innovation. 

And it’s working. The grid has never looked more unified, yet more expressive. Porsche, Maserati, Nissan, Mahindra, and Jaguar each deliver distinct interpretations of what electric performance should look like—a powerful sign of the series’ creative maturity. 

Design as the New Performance 

In the end, the growing sophistication of Formula E liveries reflects something larger: design has become a new form of performance. The right livery tells fans what a brand believes in. It builds recognition, emotion, and anticipation—and in a sport built on milliseconds and innovation, those connections matter. 

Formula E’s visual identity has evolved from bright beginnings to a sleek, confident, and electrified future. The 2025-26 grid doesn’t just showcasehow fast electric racing can be—it shows how beautiful the future of motorsport can look 

WRITTEN BY: CAMAELIA BARNES