Mark Webber has, in a certain way been peripherally involved in Formula E since one his boys, Mitch Evans, signed up with Jaguar in 2016. Then he has frequented races on and off with Porsche, with who he retains an ambassadorial link after racing for them in WEC between 2014 and 2016.
Webber loves his racing. While that is stating the obvious, his tastes are rangy when it comes to understanding the sport. But what he loves most is top drivers and big manufacturers and teams going head-to-head.
Porsche’s success in Formula E took a while to cement itself. The early years were lean in their own exalted expectations. But since the start of Gen3 in 2023, they have delivered titles in each the drivers, teams and manufacturers championships.
But Gen4 is a new challenge and from what Webber has heard and seen so far, mostly via Evans, he’s excited.
“Yep, it’s very exciting and the drivers are genuinely engaged with it, which is awesome because with the level of drivers in this championship, they deserve that,” Webber told FEN.
“I think optically, at tracks it’ll be good. Not just for TV, but It needs to be quick on TV. They haven’t just tickled it. It is a sledgehammer, and it’s a good sledgehammer.
But could there also be an increased possibility that a much quicker Formula E gets over compared to F1, a world that Webber continues to be intrinsically involved in via media work and of course his management of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.
“In terms of comparisons I think it’s important to try and steer away from that, really,” said Webber.
“I think Formula E is just going to do its own thing, and they are and that’s good. Whether Formula 1 is on fire, or struggling a bit, people naturally they’ve got choices. Do they want to watch NASCAR? Do they want to watch IndyCar? Do they want to watch MotoGP? Do they want to watch Formula E? Do they want to watch Rally, F1, whatever.
“If Formula E focus on themselves and just get their product correct. Because if that’s not done, then it doesn’t matter what F1’s doing. You have to get your own ship in order, and then the good things will come. That’s when the drivers, and the rivalries, and all those things will start to really kick on, so I think the ingredients are going the right way.”
Webber is talking good sense here. F1 has plenty on its plate right now but it is in a different stratosphere from an overall maturity and commercial standpoint. Technically too, despite its growing pains with a more electric structure to its package, it is far quicker than Formula E is now or will be next season.
Then there is the real tangible difference that can be made to Formula E’s future growth. The eyes upon it.
“Liberty, of course, have to work hand in glove with the manufacturers too, because obviously they’re the ones that are working hard and they’ve been loyal, with the Porsches and the Jaguars of this world,” reckons Webber.
“They need the manufacturers in the sport, and Liberty have to create huge opportunities in TV. More eyeballs for the manufacturers are critical. The drivers want to drive for the best manufacturers and that’s always been the case, and the manufacturers are the absolute spine of this.
“You have to have the manufacturers involved, and the more attractiveness they have for that, in terms of then also talking to the streetcar offering, you have to justify this right?
“So, we can have the commercial and the marketing justification, but also you have to have some relevance to what’s happening Monday to Friday with the street cars too. For Liberty, that’s not as much their problem.”
Webber adds that Liberty’s backing is central to Formula E pushing on beyond its current status as a highly credible sporting and technical entity to a product that can foster and then enhance its own fandom and consumers in a more concerted media, marketing and commercial direction.
“The triangle of a lot of it is obviously Liberty, from the marketing, executing that side, and then lifting the manufacturers up, and then also the drivers are happy. Then the product’s got to be wicked,” he adds.
“So, I think that’s the marriage that has to be incredibly healthy. Liberty, clearly they’ve got to continue and add their motivation (to grow). The drivers are the smaller part of that, obviously, because without the manufacturers, the drivers are toast. So, the other two (manufacturers and Liberty as owners) have to be working very, very closely together to get Formula E elevated.
