It’s official: Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds has made a donation of $250,000 to charity following Max Verstappen securing his fourth consecutive Formula 1 title. Sounds nice, right? But let’s take a closer look. Dodds’ original bet in February was that Verstappen wouldn’t win the championship, which, let’s be honest, was a questionable gamble in the first place. Did Dodds really think that Verstappen’s dominance was going to end anytime soon? Apparently, he didn’t, and yet he’s still paying up—but why?
Dodds may have thought it would be a good laugh at first, but now he’s turning his “tongue-in-cheek” wager into a serious commitment to charity. Sure, charity is always good, but is this really about the money, or is it just a way to cover up the embarrassment of losing a bet he never should have made? The truth is, Dodds is making it seem like Formula E was so far ahead of F1 that his “bet” was a joke. But wasn’t the whole thing just a stunt to draw attention to Formula E’s inferiority complex?
A “Bet” to Boost Formula E’s Image? Or Just PR?
Let’s not ignore the real motive here: Formula E needs all the publicity it can get. After all, this is a sport that has struggled to gain the same level of global traction as Formula 1. Dodds’ donation may seem like a generous move, but could it be that this entire episode was designed to make Formula E look more relevant in the shadow of F1’s ever-growing dominance?
What’s worse, Dodds didn’t just stop at the spinal cord research charity. He decided to also make the donation to promote gender equality in motorsport. While it’s noble to support women in racing, is it just a coincidence that the Formula E boss chose this cause right after a F1 driver won his fourth consecutive title? Could this be yet another attempt to position Formula E as the more progressive, “socially-conscious” alternative to the perceived “old boys’ club” of F1?
Verstappen’s Involvement: A “Great Shout” or Just More PR?
When Verstappen received the news, he casually stated it was a “great shout” and added that he would be “watching the championship during my time off.” Is that really the most enthusiastic endorsement of the entire affair? Max isn’t exactly rushing to join Formula E, is he? And yet Dodds acts like Verstappen’s approval is a massive win for his series. The real question here is whether Verstappen’s endorsement is anything more than just a convenient way to keep F1’s dominance in check while making Formula E look good in the process.
The Uncomfortable Reality of Formula E’s Gender Equity Push
Sure, gender equity in motorsport sounds great, but we need to ask: Is it actually working? Dodds claims that Formula E is working with ‘More Than Equal’ to research the barriers women face in motorsport, but will this lead to real change? He says two women will drive in the series’ rookie tests next year, but let’s be real—how likely are they to secure actual race seats?
Formula E’s idea of promoting gender equity sounds almost like a token gesture, especially considering there’s still no full-time female driver in Formula E despite efforts in the last decade. This looks like another convenient storyline for Dodds and Formula E to boost their image. Women in motorsport are still an underrepresented minority, and it feels like Dodds’ efforts may just be a way to look progressive without doing much to truly change the status quo.
Will This “Bet” Actually Matter?
We’ve heard the excuses—Dodds says he’s not making any more bets with Formula 1, and we get it: no one’s betting against Verstappen next year. But let’s be honest here: Dodds only made this bet because he thought it was a sure thing—and now he’s acting like he’s some kind of hero for sticking to his word. The truth is, Formula E’s struggle to maintain relevance is real, and this donation is nothing more than an attempt to ride the coattails of F1’s success while claiming to be the “more progressive” alternative.
So, here’s the bottom line: Formula E might claim to be doing good, but in the end, it feels more like another PR stunt designed to grab attention and paint the series as something it’s still not—equal and competitive with Formula 1. Dodds may have handed over the $250,000, but in the grand scheme of things, is this really the change we need, or just another way for Formula E to look better than it actually is?
