FIA president Jean Todt says that it is “nonsense” to suggest that Formula 1 could turn to an all-electric sport in the coming years. Liberty Media’s Ross Brawn stated last month that the sport could introduce all-electric cars if it would be the best thing for the series.
Brawn’s comments were met with negativity from fans as Formula E is currently the FIA’s leading all-electric racing series, with races being held at street circuits around the world. Its CEO Alejandro Agag brushed off Brawn’s suggestions, stating that Formula E has 25-year exclusive license.
And Todt says that F1 will not become solely powered by electricity soon, while dismissing comparisons to Formula E: “It would be nonsense to say in the coming future Formula 1 is going to be electric. It’s not going to happen, simply you could not do it,” the Frenchman said.
“We are talking about two completely different categories. Formula E has not got the performance of Formula 1. At the moment one of the reasons Formula E is in cities is because it would not create any interest to have Formula E on a circuit like Monza, for example. We are talking about two different categories.
“It is completely misleading to compare Formula E and Formula 1. Formula 1 is a very well-established category, and I keep saying, for me, Formula E is the baby of the FIA. So still a lot to learn. But saying that, it’s growing very well. We started four years back, we needed to have two cars to do a race of 45 minutes. At the end of the year first race in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, when a woman will be allowed to drive, we will be able to do the race with one car. It shows how motor-racing can be a laboratory, not only a show, a laboratory. But to lose time by comparing the two categories is just boring.” – he concluded.
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