Cupra Kiro ‘s Team Principal Alex Hui discussed at lengths the first season with the rebranded team ahead of the Monaco E-Prix, as well as what’s next to come for the American-owned Formula E team.
A long journey in the championship
Asked by Pit Debrief on his favorite development in the history of Formula E up to now, Hui looked back at his own legacy within the championship, as former ERT Team Principal.
“Okay, your question is actually reminding me I have been here for six seasons already. So actually half of the Formula E journey. I joined the previous owner back in the old days, 2019-2020, that was just before COVID.”
“So that year looks really, really,really, really good year with Mercedes and Porsche joining in the same year with 12 teams full. And then COVID hit, every business has a few years of difficulties, including us, with some manufacturers leaving and then some manufacturers joining.”
“Now, I think we, in terms of the products and the racing, Gen 2 and Gen 3 have a very good step. But I think Gen 1 and Gen 2 is a very big step. Gen 2 and Gen 3 have another very good step.”
An ever growing story
Kiro ‘s Hui went into further details on the aspects which led him to believe that Formula E as a series is growing day by day, including the more thorough approach to media activities, which led to the Evo sessions in Miami the past month. These allowed influencers, stars and other famous personalities to compete in a mock Formula E event set in Miami.
“But then the championship in terms of the operation quality has matured a lot. For what I’ve seen in season 6 coming now, all the infrastructure, all the organisation,actually the small details are being polished out really, really, really well. The only thing that I think we still need a lot is noise and publicity,which I think Formula E is doing a very good job this year.”
“You see, they put in huge effort putting together the Evo sections. That gap was supposed to be a race in Thailand, which didn’t happen. And they can do nothing and sit at home. But instead of that, they put in like nearly a real race weekend of effort with 11 celebrities driving the car. The cost is, I don’t think it’s far from making a race weekend. So it’s a huge effort.”
Milestones ahead
Hui praised the series’s approach to the Evo sessions initiative, which has definitely raised clamour within a previously untapped audience. For Kiro American influencer MrBeast had driven, and even crashed his challenger, with footage of the accident going viral on social medias.
“And with them putting, investing, getting someone like Mr Beast on the car, I think Formula E is a big company. But the thing is you need to spend money before you make money. Like us, we create a lot of noise, but I think we will have much more return for the championship for the team coming.”
An even more important milestone for the series will also be the upcoming new generation of car, the Gen4, which is set to debut in the 2026-2027 season. So far, five manufacturers have committed to the next four seasons of racing, including Kiro’s supplier Porsche.
“I think Gen 4 is going to be the biggest step we’ve ever seen. Their car will be phenomenal. I think around this track, I don’t know how compared to Formula 1, but it will definitely be quicker than Formula 2. So it will get close to Formula 1 in Monaco, I would say. So the speed will be really, really amazing,our performance. Big step.”
Up next: Monaco double header
Kiro ‘s Hui is also positive ahead of the first ever Monaco E-Prix double header, going as far as to say a podium could end in the cards for the young team fielding Dan Ticktum and rookie David Beckmann.
“I would have to believe every race we can get on the podium. So, obviously, it’s very difficult to do any prediction. We just try our best. But I would say I have a good feeling about this weekend. Because, as I said, first track David has already driven. I think that will help his confidence, in lap one, he doesn’t need to really think if it’s left or right.”
Beckmann has already had a taste of driving around the principality with Formula 3 and Formula 2. Thus, scoring points with both cars could be easier than in previous rounds.
“He just knows that. So I think David will start in a good pace. In the Sunday race, it will be a more energy-saving race. Porsche got good powertrain. But having said that, this year what we’ve seen is the differences in powertrain efficiency have been reduced between teams. And last year, Wehrlein put iton pole position here.”
“So we would believe the same car should be competitive. Although with different tyres and four-wheel drive. But we will push hard. I feel good up to this point. But maybe after tomorrow, the first race, you can come and ask me again. “
