Already in its sixth year, Formula One's hybrid formula is a technical success, especially in terms of efficiency and reliability, not to mention outright grunt.

Speaking at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Chase Carey said that as the sport moves forward it will play a key role in tackling carbon emissions

"The Formula 1 hybrid engine is the most efficient in the world and has a critical role to play to address the wider global environmental issue," he said.

"I think the solution to the environmental situation is going to be many and not just one," he continued, "and while I appreciate electric has got the attention and has hit a sweet spot at the moment, I think electric will be part of the solution but has issues such as battery disposal that still need to be addressed.

"We believe the hybrid engine and fuel technologies can play a big role, a leading role, in the addressing the issue of carbon emissions," he added. "We believe the solution will be a path of many rather than one cure-all."

His comments come just a day after Mercedes revealed its Formula E team, the world champions joining a number of the world's other major car manufacturers in the all-electric series.

And as it is revealed that Ferrari, which has expressed no interest in Formula E, admits that it considers the series could be a threat to F1, yesterday Mercedes revealed that it requires 18 (fossil fuel powered) trucks to transport its motorhome around the various European Grand Prix venues.

Interestingly, while saying that Formula One will aid the battle to tackle carbon emissions, Carey spoke of the role the sport has played in the development of road cars over the years, a claim that is somewhat debatable.

"Formula 1 and its history, the pinnacle of motorsport, has played a leading role in road cars," he Carey. "Computers, safety or aero have all come from Formula 1 innovation, and road car developments, such as plug in hybrids, have benefitted from F1 innovation and technology.

"We will also be moving forward on addressing environmental issues across the sport including our events off the track. It is going to be a major initiative for us and we are quite excited about our ability to play a leadership role and that’s what Formula 1 has always been, a leader in initiatives that lead to the auto world."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by sagosac, 15/09/2019 9:26

"given that the production car manufacturers involved in F1 stand for circa 20% of global auto sales, I believe that it has got a positive ecological impact, over time at least; even when counting the 250 trucks (or so) and dozens of planes per race. I see F1 as fundamental research.

The pain is that it could be much more progressive, more varied in its technological approach.
Because in the not so far future, positive societal relevance will be the sole justification for investing / burrning such precious resources (and then all these downsized, standardised and streamlined series will face serious threat).

Good is that FOM is going for synthetic fuel, starting with 20% (=30% in energy density) in 2021.
And the engine supplier's inofficial aim for 2025 is to achieve thermal efficiency of 60%.

So, although everything could be more and much faster (e.g. via less restrictive limitation of Power Units per car and season), there is still sensible progress which should have a positive output.
"

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2. Posted by Jezzer, 13/09/2019 12:25

"As for road relevance......there is no way I would ever buy Pirelli tyres again after seeing how crap they are in F1. A case of marketing having the reverse effect. And don’t get me started about suspension so hard and roads so bad in the UK that you literally wouldn’t be able to see where you are going OR the fact I can only drive at 70mph maximum. Please can we once and for forever STOP saying that any form of motorsports is road relevant. "

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3. Posted by Jezzer, 13/09/2019 12:18

"And what about the spectators transport, the media trucks and helicopters? What an idiot "

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4. Posted by Lakota, 13/09/2019 11:34

"How many private jets go to one F1 race ?"

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 13/09/2019 10:57

"F1 is about as "Green" as burning £50 notes over a high-sulphur oil fire, and unlikely to become any better any time soon.
Notwithstanding that Formula E also requires transporting people & kit at (probably) high environmental impact, there is actually genuine technology transfer between the Series & Road cars.
Formula E (and F1 of course) could, for example, mandate Teams to use soon to be available plug-in Trucks, further boosting its environmental\real-world credibility.

IC-powered motor-sport is last century's thing, and F1 with its ossified structures & rules, is looking increasingly like the dinosaur about to be destroyed by the asteroid-like impact of Technology & Public opinion. Oh, and Form E offers decent racing.
"

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Carey talks up F1's environmental aims

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