Formula One is preparing itself for a period of progressive change towards greater fuel efficiency, clearer ‘green’ credentials and much bigger popularity with car makers and racing fans.
This vision of a future when ‘green equals cool’ and accelerates the sport’s brand vision towards a more eco-friendly set of values suitable for a new age of low carbon emissions was spelt out by team chiefs this week.
Mercedes’ boss Ross Brawn and McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh were members of a panel that met F1 supporters at ‘meet the fans’ forum organised by the Formula One Teams’ Organsiation (FOTA) at the McLaren headquarters on Thursday.
Referring to the introduction of new 1.6-litre V6 turbo-charged engines in 2014, Brawn said: “It’s not only about the fact that the new engine is going to be more efficient in itself.
“It’s the message it gives — that it’s cool to have a really efficient engine and race on a lot less fuel.” For decades, Formula One has been associated with huge levels of power, high levels of noise and fears of equally high levels of pollution, mostly associated with a perceived need to give the sport’s fans a deafening experience of glorious, loud and penetrative engine performance.
Now, according to the new generation of team chiefs who are leading the forward march for the sport, those days are drawing to a close. The new engines, and their associated hybrid systems, were approved by the sport’s governing body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) on Wednesday.
The ‘new age of F1’ will usher in a fuel efficiency improvement of at least 35 per cent, energy recovery systems, fuel restrictions, maximum revs of up to 15,000 rpm (down from 18,000) and an overall power ceiling of around 750 bhp. “We’re setting dramatic targets for reducing the amount of fuel we race with – 30 per cent, 40 per cent and even 50 per cent less than what we’re racing on now, but still with the same power and the same excitement,” explained Brawn.
