Breaking the bubble Formula E is a sport at a crossroads with spark on track that falls flat with public

A racing series with purpose, Formula E heads into its season finale in London this weekend having to an extent already made its point.

- Giles Richards

The adoption of electric vehicles, considered a somewhat fanciful future when it began in 2014, has been embraced as an integral part of dealing with the climate emergency.

Still, Formula E is intent on continuing to build a championship that remains a sustainable and entertaining series. The task it faces is persuading the public to pay attention.

Those opening years did nothing to help the cause. A decade ago the cars that trundled round Battersea Park in London did little to sell the future of electric racing. They were slow and unwieldy, and sounded rather like disgruntled hairdryers. Worst of all, with batteries unable to last an entire race, drivers had to change car at the midway point.

Formula E attracted attention at the time given it was new and its unique selling point was racing in purpose-built, pop-up tracks in city centres, but many of the races were underwhelming, creating an impression that has lingered. A decade on, Formula E deserves more consideration, however. The sport is unrecognisable from its early days, as was evident two weeks ago at Berlin's former Tempelhof airport, where Britain's Oliver Rowland sealed the championship for Nissan.