Formula One is living in a bubble if it expects to continue using hybridized ICE powertrains in the long term. For many years the FIA has justified the existence of Formula One by saying real-world motorists benefit from the technology transfer. It is fair to say F1 represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering and aerodynamics. The sport has always pushed the boundaries of mechanical engineering. Modern F1 cars are part analog, part digital. But where is the technology transfer between an F1 car and a Ford Fiesta or Nissan Micra?

Nevertheless, we can all agree that Formula One engineering is peerless. The technology transfer from F1 to road cars does exist. Very few people have the money to invest in a McLaren P1 or an Aston Martin Valkyrie. Modern F1 has followed the turbo-charged hybrid route. These cars are sophisticated, more alien technology than earthly.

Formula One claims that it is focused on a sustainable, cleaner future and is doing all it can to reduce its carbon footprint. But its main sponsor is oil giant and gas giant Aramco, currently the richest company on the planet. Aramco is worth over $2.7 trillion dollars, which is the same annual GDP as the United Kingdom. How does F1 reduce its carbon footprint with an oil company as its chief sponsor? It doesn’t.

The FIA creates a message saying otherwise, but it is and always will be just a message. More contradiction as much as a distraction. One example is the FIA saying that it intends to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2030. Switching to synthetic fuel for the 2022 season will not be enough to reduce F1’s carbon footprint. The messaging doesn’t make any sense.

On current trends alone, electric battery technology will get lighter and offer more range, and more power. By 2030 electric car battery technology and petroleum will converge in terms of efficiency before batteries slowly make oil and gas the fuel of the past.

In a recent interview, former F1 champion Nico Rosberg and team boss of Extreme E Rosberg Racing said that F1 will one day have to reconcile making the switch from fossil fuels to electric.

Nico Rosberg:

“synthetic fuels are very relevant for other mobility sectors, might it be airplanes or container ships or trucks. I see they [F1] are going with synthetic fuels, which for mobility as such is not going to be the best solution.”

“Formula 1 will play a key role in developing these e-fuels. is that enough for F1 to be relevant with e-fuels as the only mobility thing to be using e-fuels? Well, that’s a bit of a question mark for the long term. Maybe they will have to go electric.”