The FIA opposes fully electric Formula 1 single-seaters

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

So, if you were expecting to see fully electric Formula 1 single-seaters zipping through the pit lane at Monza in the short term, well, you may as well put a pin in that and leave it there, according to FIA president Jean Todt, who does not believe electric motors can meet the demands of F1, as certain sources claim.

“For the moment, the only option to consider is Formula 1 with a hybrid engine,” he said. “You cannot imagine Formula E replacing Formula 1. 300 km race distance? Today there is no electric race car capable of covering 300 km at Formula 1 speeds.”

“It will be decades before that can happen, if it ever does. Today, hybrid is the right option; the next step is to see how we can secure greener fuels.”

Formula 1 single-seaters move away from electricity

Meanwhile, the F1 engine chief of Mercedes-AMG, Andy Cowell, largely agrees with Jean Todt’s prediction that Formula 1 will not become fully electric for at least a few more decades.

“Everything depends on storage technology. If it is lithium-ion, then Jean Todt’s timeframe is correct. If you look at a hydrogen solution, that can be done today, but the cars would be much heavier and bulkier than they are today, at which point I think you lose the look of Formula 1.”

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

Formula E has started its sixth season and counts major car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Nissan and Jaguar among its ranks, while Porsche and Mercedes-Benz joined the grid for the 2019/20 season.

“We believe in liquid fuels and an engine with 60% thermal efficiency, at which point it is not about getting rid of the internal combustion [element]. It is about adapting that and having the petrochemical companies adapt to carbon capture and so on. I think that is the future of the next 10-20 years.”

F1 president Chase Carey says F1 can showcase the benefits of hybrid technology as the road car manufacturers evaluate their direction in the road car market. Carey further said, “I think the hybrid engine can, in many ways, be one of the most important components, if not the most important, of addressing today’s more than a billion cars with combustion engines.

“And we can, through initiatives such as fuels, fuel technology and energy recovery, continue to make that space.”