Ecclestone tells Liberty Media to consider all-electric F1
- Published on 25 Feb 2018 13:12
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Bernie Ecclestone has said that Liberty Media should consider turning Formula 1 into an all-electric sport. F1 has incorporated major electrical power into the sport, with the hybrid engine regulations being introduced in 2014.
However, the electrical components function alongside internal combustion engines. Ecclestone was the boss of F1 for over forty years before being let off by Liberty Media, who completed its acquisition of the sport at the start of 2017.
Formula E, which is currently in its fourth season of running, has been a hot spot for leading manufacturers who want to grow electric car technology. Ecclestone thinks that F1 should consider making the switch to electrical power to match the growing business.
"We still own the name Formula 1, we still have contracts with promoters," Ecclestone told The Guardian. "Let’s make different types of cars, let’s speak to the manufacturers and start a new all-electric F1, a Formula 1 for the future.
"Can’t we do this? The manufacturers provide the cars themselves but we aren’t going to pay them because they get massive worldwide publicity. It would be a super Formula E, if you like.
"You can make cars be like an F1 car and the only thing you would miss would be the noise and I do not believe that people could not come up with something to make more or less the old F1 noise. They [Liberty] would need to have the balls to do it today. I think they will have to do it," he stated.
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Replies (13)
Login to replyRindtchamp
Posts: 304
no,No, NO!!
dear gods no.. Just look at Formula E, it's terible, poor racing, less overtakes than F1 and they sound like they are racing hoovers.
NO!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah, going electric now is just a plain bad idea.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If he wanted F1 to go electric now, when FE has proven that EV clearly isnt ready for the race track, then Im glad he is gone from the scene. I'll gladly have Liberty "Americanizing" (Im pronouncing that in the same way I pronounce "Its just cosmetics!") the show rather than that money grabbing, big team pleading, Pirellifed, corrupt old Himmlerscrotum.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
In pretty sure this is Ecclestone playing politics. I'm guessing he'd love to buy F1 back - at a lower price of course - and statements like these tie into that.
In terms of an electric version of F1. The way I'd do it, if I absolutely had to, would be to do a brand split. Keep F1 as it is, but use the F1 brand to get the new series off the ground. Call it F1E, for instance. When the two series gets competitive, you could always merge them and just let the petrol versions slowly become obsolete. Or keep them separate if there's still a market for both.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
That could work, but the problem is that F1E is basically what FE already is.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
Except without the stench of disappointment attached to it. Plus it would be another revenue stream for Liberty, as they are, as far as I know, not in bed with FE.
Obviously it's not something they should launch next year, as the technology is still struggling at best. But in 5-10 years time, if the performance is somewhat close to that of F1, I'd probably give it a go, if I were them.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Nah. If the manufacturers have the mind (they already have the money) then FE will get there on its own without Liberty butting in and a rival series is nuts. If F1 wanted to track industry then shift the balance more electric and less ICE, maybe charging off the main drive (no battery change!) -that’s what’s happening on the roads, all out plug-in electric is the minor player. Personally I believe the car industry is a long way off all electric without massive private or state funding for charging infrastructure AND generating capacity, that’s too long term at the mo for the power generators, in the UK at least.
f1dave
Posts: 782
No. Just look at how FE is failing. Montreal opted out after lack of fan interest caused it to lose money and it can't attract quality drivers (note: the latest driver announcement is Carmen Jorda) While manufacturers may be signing up to appear eco friendly it isn't a viable racing series. Time for Bernie to just be ignored.
Major Tom
Posts: 152
And now he's going senile!
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I would usually get mad by these comments, but today I just smile. Because Bernie is gone forever and hill bullshit can no longer damage the sport. By the way I don't even believe this was a serious suggestion. I think he is trying to troll the new management.
Barron
Posts: 625
Bernie’s games. He’s not senile, nor has he lost the plot. It’s a subliminal message to Liberty to do something with a bang because to me anyway, they are creeping along, doing what Bernie did with the odd insignificant tweak. They are trying to get their money out, and isn’t this exactly what everyone accused Bernie of? To be successful in any business you need men & women with vision, but I don’t see it (yet) from Liberty. Bernie is throwing the spectre of an all electric F1 out there to give them a jolt. I’m pretty sure Bernie has 5* petroleum and Castro’s ‘R’ in his veins and he would hate an electric series. Just my opinion.
Barron
Posts: 625
Holy moly! “Castro’s R” ??? Haha, darned spellcheck, I mean of course the ubiquitous Castrol R!!!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I mean, Im sure Bernie wouldnt mind having Castro R fuel in him either. ;)