Race weekends in Formula 1 regularly turn nearby roads into parking lots long before the first practice session begins. Archer Aviation and Formula 1 announced a multi-year partnership on November 12 that aims to change how some people reach the circuit. Archer becomes an Official Supporter of the series and will display its Midnight electric air taxi at selected races that match the cities where the company plans to launch commercial service.
Midnight crashed the fan area at last month’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, and it will return for the Las Vegas Grand Prix next week, as well as Abu Dhabi a few months later. That speaks a lot about the jet we’re talking about, and it provides an opportunity for the two groups to have a closer look at the aircraft while also wrapping their heads around some longer-term concepts. Partners are considering creating dedicated landing areas near the circuits, as well as providing short flights to current hospitality and ticket packages. Once Archer receives approval for passenger service in a certain market, the goal is to quickly transport VIPs and fans from the airport to the hotel to the track.
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Midnight travels with a pilot and four passengers using just electric power. Twelve propellers lift it out of the small pad, and six of them tilt forward as the wing takes over for the cruise. They’re talking about a top speed of roughly 150 mph and a range of about 100 miles, with most journeys lasting only 20 miles, so the batteries can be recharged in about ten minutes.
Both teams of engineers are on the same page because the goal is to achieve the optimal power-to-weight ratio, use sophisticated composites, and ensure that the aerodynamics are tightly integrated. They require the aircraft to take off, transition, and cruise on battery power alone. Archer CEO Adam Goldstein believes that motorsport and aircraft have a lot in common, and that F1’s 830 million spectators are just obsessed with high-performance vehicles.
According to Emily Prazer, CCO at F1, this relationship is all about coming up with innovative ideas to improve the fan experience at events. For the time being, nothing is set in stone in terms of routes, costs, or anything else. Any commercial activities are contingent on regulatory approval, and Archer is currently working on obtaining the approvals required to begin raking it in, with a target date of 2027 at the latest in some areas. The US plans to launch Midnight networks in Miami and Texas, which coincide with the location of the Grand Prix, and there are similar plans in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, with many of the same connections as other high-profile sports ties, such as being the official air taxi for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
