Extreme H: What we know so far
This is your guide for the Extreme H championship, a motorsport equivalent to highly caffeinated Scalextric, extreme in every which way; you arrive for the novelty and stay for the hydrogen-based sustainability.
Extreme H race locations:
The specific locations and dates for each race are still somewhat shrouded in mystery, despite the fact that we are now roughly two-thirds of the way through 2025, the year Extreme H is set to debut.
However, in 2024, there was a plan laid out which detailed the countries spectators could at least expect these races to occur in, these were as follows:
- Saudi Arabia
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Italy
- USA
Earlier this month, Driving Hydrogen was able to interview Managing Director Ali Russell, who indicated that the start location is still likely to be Saudi Arabia.
For the United Kingdom leg, there has been much online speculation about the difficulty of finding a suitable area to host such a dramatic race.
Of course, the Extreme E series previously frequented the opencast coal mines of Dumfries, Scotland.
The question is, will Extreme H return to familiar ground or seek new extreme locations to showcase hydrogen technology?
Personally, I would like to see Extreme H take on the Cotswolds; nothing suits the rolling green of the southwest like a small fleet of 200kph off-road hydrogen racers, though it might give the sheep a minor heart attack.
Team format:
Extreme H is expected to maintain the unique format introduced by Extreme E, meaning each team will consist of one female and one male driver.
The collaboration of male and female drivers within a single championship and a single team will achieve a sense of equality that series such as the F1 academy are similarly striving for.
However, while F1 Academy is an all-women championship, therefore offering a greater quantity of seats for female racing talent, it necessitates that drivers must be aged between 16 and 25 and can spend a maximum of two seasons participating. Extreme H has no such limitations.
Race format:
For the race day format, Fox Sport, one of Extreme H’s key broadcasters, confirmed “The Extreme H series will retain the same thrilling race formats and off-road locations that have been the hallmark of Extreme E”. The Extreme E race format was typically spread across two action-packed days.
Firstly, the grid was randomly split into two groups of four teams. Qualifying 1 will take place, the first group of four teams will have their heat, then the next group of four will. This process will repeat for Qualifying 2, in the same groups.
In each qualifying session, both the female and male driver must participate, changing mid-way in the assigned “switch zone”, this ensures equal contribution. Then each team’s collective points scored across their two qualifying sessions will be added up, and they will be ranked.
The top four teams will head straight into the grand final, whereas the bottom four will take part in a redemption race. There was originally a more complicated structure that involved various semifinals which was adapted as the Extreme E championship matured.
Which teams are in Extreme H:
At the time of writing, there are officially only two teams that have declared their place on the Extreme H grid. Veloce Media Group and the SUN Minimeal Team.
RIP RXR: Extreme E’s most successful team with nine wins from a total of 24 X-Prixes, was spearheaded by a man you might be familiar with, Nico Rosberg, but, as of December 2024, the team officially shut down and will not be continuing with the series through its hydrogen evolution.
The team stated that this point of transition “marks a natural moment for RXR to close this chapter” and that they wish “Extreme H and all the teams competing next year well as they usher in a new era for hydrogen-powered motorsport”.
Tech & partnerships:
Extreme H’s car, aptly named the Pioneer 25, is a complex feat of engineering, so by necessity, the championship has a complex technical partner network to support them.
- Hydrogen fuel cell: Symbio, supplies a 5kW hydrogen fuel cell, replacing the battery as the principal energy source.
- Hydrogen supplier: ENOWA, a hydrogen subsidiary of NEOM and the official green hydrogen supplier of Extreme H since its conception.
- Manufacturers: Spark Racing Technology finished production of a ten-car race fleet in January.
- Technical partners: Siemens and GeoPura, providers of “industrial software and technical consultancy”. Siemens also recently played host to the Hydrogen Hub, an invite-only event at which the frontrunners and experts of the hydrogen industry gathered in July for a day of collaboration and consultation.
Where to watch Extreme H 2025
UK:
ITV and ITVX will be the main points of access as Extreme H has “Confirmed a landmark multi-year broadcast agreement with ITV”. There is also expected to be a significant level of coverage on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland
Europe:
Warner Bros. Discovery has also committed to a broadcast deal that will provide fans with live coverage of Extreme H across more than “50 territories”. Streaming will be available on platforms such as HBO Max and Discovery+.
Latin America:
Extreme H is partnering with ESPN to broadcast specifically to Latin America, targeting audiences in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
USA:
In October, Extreme H proudly announced a three-year broadcast with Fox Sport, a deal running until the conclusion of the 2027 campaign.
India:
Sony Pictures Networks India, a company that reaches more than 700 million viewers in India alone, has extended its Extreme E contract through the championship’s shift to Extreme H.
