Why not with the engine size in the formula one series? As one of the leading bodies in innovation in direct relation to the carbon footprint of our species I think there is an inherent concern. We should look at this as an opportunity to keep the sport entertaining, safe and useful IMVHO.
Let's not kid ourselves. f1 is entertainment and advertising these days. MB and Renault wanted a green sport for PR reasons only. The real innovation in this area is done independently by the company's R&D branch and transplanted to F1. There's very little that goes in the other direction. No matter what they say publically. F1 sold its soul to the company store.
It's a bit too technical for me to understand it all, but I read sometime ago that they are working on alternative to batteries to save energy. Something that wouldn't toxic in content, and not harmful to produce and recycle. That may be the next breakthrough. But what is certain is that research will be spurred on by solving battery related problems in F1, and in Formula E.
No racing permits a driver to drive flat out every lap, that is simply not possible. You have to look after your tyres, brakes, strategy, etc. I don't know where this concept came from? Pete
But F1 has to fit in the economic environment where ecology, health and energy conservation are increasingly the order of the day.
You missed my point. I was not comparing F1 to the Sony Walkman, I was comparing the internal combustion engine. F1 needs to move away from the internal combustion engine because it's days a numbered. F1's main marketing angle is it is relevant and a high user of modern cutting edge technology. That stopped being the internal combustion engine about 10 to 20 years ago. So I was not expecting tree huggers to watch F1 I was talking about normal people that are not interested in historic car racing. I'm sure the same sort of conversation was had when diesel trains took over from steam trains ... Yes I'm saying the internal combustion engine is at that same point the steam train was. Again why are you picking on the 2014 season. No different to 2000 to 2007 when Ferrari won with absolutely no competition. It is not the power units fault it is the engineers at non-Mercedes teams that fncked up their car design. Next year will likely be better as those engineers (who I would have fired) have had a year to study how to do their job properly. Pete
And hybrids are not a failure. My parents have been driving them for many years now and love the fuel cost saving. Yes they are not perfect but it is a step forward and as technology marches forward there will be better solutions found. Renault I believe have come up with a hybrid that stores compressed air instead of electricity. When you move away from the lights the compressed air drives you forward ... very clever. Pete
Note my use of the word artificially. Or better, intentionally. Why? Does F1 have a responsibility unique in pro sports? And if so wouldn't it be better if it were actually green and not so carbon profligate in every aspect save the motors?
I know that you won't like my response, but here we go, anyway. F1 has to stay "relevant" to continue to exist. It has to be seen to adopt comtemporary concerns, and not become, shall we say "antisocial" ? I suppose this is how it is sold to manufacturers for them to take interest and invest in it. Whilst the world (well Europe at least) becomes increasingly energy conscious, ecologic and ... responsible, just promoting speed, danger, noise and waste wouldn't be sustainable in the long run. For example, you don't promote wildlife conservation by offering safaris, do you? Just like you don't arrange fund raising for a neuro-surgery department by organising boxing matches. Even motor racing has to be tamed to stay acceptable in future. The fans don't like it, but the decision makers, the authorities (in and outside the sport) see a wider picture.
It's taxation that makes a particular type of fuel or energy relevant. I used to live in France, where Diesel was 2/3 the price of petrol. Even without taking into account the highest mileage per galon, it's was no brainer to decide wht type of car to buy. Then, I come back in UK, where Diesel fuel is slightly more expansive than petrol, but diesel engines emit less CO2, so pay less road tax. So, I kept having diesels. Then, they introduced a $16 PER DAY Congestion Charge to drive in London, but LPG cars didn't have to pay. LPG is roughly 1/2 the price of petrol, but the mileage per galon is not so good. Also, a LPG installation on your car costs between $2000 and $3000 depending on the vehicle. So, I converted my Jag to LPG! Now, to make hybrid and electric cars more attractive, they also exempt them from Congestion Charge in London, and also Road tax. Even the cost of insurance is subsidised by the government. A 50 or 60 miles range is not enough , so an electric car won't do for me. My next car will most certainly be an hybdrid, running electric in town, and petrol on the road, and I will be laughing all the way to the bank!
Even if that were true F1 has shown that its incapable doing so. The more they tweak the worse things get. It might have something to do with the hypocracy that the whole green effort is based on. "We're going to create more pollution just to show how green we can seem". The same way they cut costs by spending more. They need to stick to what they know how to do best. Racing not politics.
I'm already on record as saying it is wrong to try and make F1 primarily "relevant" to anything other than purely being about racing. My personal view is that is why the fans are leaving in their droves. It also irks me no end that some people slavishly stick to hybrid and totally ignore far better potential solutions. Sure, there may be cases of people who actually like their Prius, just like there were people who liked their Edsel. Hybrid is so bad and wrong in so many ways, for the life of me I don't see why or how people stand by it. The Emperor and his new clothes I guess.
I think I explained why: it is forced upon us, by taxation and legislation. Just look at this. I live in the suburb South of London, to visit the suburb North of London, for example, I will have a choice. Or I go across London through the ZERO EMISSION zone driving an electric or hybrid car on electric power; 15 miles. Or I travel with an ICE car on the peripheric motorway around London: 60 miles at least. Do you think people who do that commute everyday will stick to ICE for long?
Yeah! - LaFerrari and McLaren P1 owners should be embarrassed when they're driving their Hybrid cars! I mean, what a pair of dreadful cars!
Yep, I acknowledged your point earlier. But the Low Emission Zones are proposals for 2020. IMO there are solutions on the table that hit these targets in a better way than battery powered hybrid cr4p. BTW the emission proposals for 2020 cover all of Europe so the thought that power stations being located out of the city centres and being excluded is wrong. Unless your suggesting you want all the UK power generated by nuclear facilities?
I am shocked that this comment went unnoticed. The development of battery technology is indeed the key to making electric cars practical. Unfortunately, I don't see F1, or car manufacturers, addressing that issue
There may be better options, but our authorities give us no choice. What is considered for Paris and London ZERO EMISSION zones, is far stricter than the EU emission proposals for all Europe. Our power stations in UK are outside towns, of course, mostly on the coast, and yes, we will rely more and more on nuclear energy. France already gets 80% of its electricity from nuclear energy. It's been mostly a political choice, more than an economic one. The position of Scandinavia or Germany is puzzling for us: they decommission their nuclear power stations to go back to fossil fuels to depend on Russia for oil and gas.
Yes, take away restrictions on current batteries and usage and let teams develop any battery they like as long as it's not pre-charged. Money spent this way will at least be useful in real world
Why stop with batteries? Let them explore any type of energy storing device like capacitors, or some form of storage that has not been tried yet. Or even allowing a mechanical storage system (flywheel) like Williams developed. In LMP1-H all three are used: Porsche uses Lithium ion batteries, Toyota uses capacitors and Audi uses the Williams flywheel-generator Once again, F1 is too restrictive to dare call itself the pinnacle of motor sport.
