FIA Boss Currently Opposes Fully Electric Formula 1 Cars

While Formula E is currently in its sixth season using nothing but battery-electric power, Formula 1 is sticking to its V6 turbo hybrid units, which will remain in service even after the 2021 rule changes.

So if you were hoping to see fully-electric Formula 1 cars blasting down the pit straight at Monza anytime soon, well, it’s best to put a pin in that and leave it there, according to FIA president Jean Todt – who doesn’t believe that electric motors can meet the demands of F1, reports Autosport.

“At the moment you can only consider F1 with a hybrid engine,” he stated. “You cannot envisage FE (Formula E) substituting F1. 300 km [race distance]? There is not one [electric] race car able to do 300 km at the F1 speed today.”

“It will be decades before it can happen, if it does happen. Today, hybrid is the proper choice, the next step is to see how we can secure greener fuels.”

Also read: Racing Point Exec Says 2021 F1 Cars Will Be “Nasty Piece Of Work To Drive”

Meanwhile, Mercedes’ F1 engine chief Andy Cowell is pretty much in agreement with Todt’s prediction regarding F1 not going fully-electric for at least a few more decades.

“It’s all down to the storage technology. If it’s lithium-ion then his [Todt’s] time frame is correct. If you go for a hydrogen solution, then that can be done today, but the cars would be a lot heavier and a lot bulkier than they are today, at which point I think you lose the F1 aspect of it.”

“So I think that is why the steps that we’re taking for 2021 are important, where we’re introducing a 10% bio-sustainable fuel. If we can, with the next generation of power units, develop an engine around 100% sustainable fuel, then there is a huge amount of carbon dioxide that we could convert into liquid hydrocarbon-based fuel.”