F1 must remain "sport and entertainment" despite sustainability drive - McLaren

McLaren

F1 must remain "sport and entertainment" despite sustainability drive - McLaren

F1's future is unclear as technology develops

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Sunday 20 June 2021 14:00

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown is unsure of the future of propulsion in F1 but has warned the paddock must remember it is "sport and entertainment".

F1 will use the current turbo-hybrid powertrains until 2025 when a new engine will be introduced, with the sport developing synthetic, carbon-neutral fuels with the aim to implement these in order to increase the sustainability of the championship.

After the recent announcement that McLaren would join the all-electric Extreme E series, Brown pointed to finding a balance between technology and entertainment.

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"I don't know is the answer, to which is going to be the route," conceded Brown when asked whether fuel or electric would win out in the future.

"I suspect that there will be multiple routes. I think the common theme is: sustainability is critically important.

"There are different ways to approach motor racing. I think we need to remember motor racing is a sport and entertainment. Technology plays a huge part and is very relevant but we are sport and entertainment.

"I think ultimately, there are different... hydrogen, fuels, electrification and I think we are in the early days in the automotive space of developing these technologies."

Motorsport can be platform for technological development

Despite the apparent doubts as to which route the automotive sector will take in terms of developing a sustainable propulsion system, there is scope for the rapid development of technology when divided across multiple disciplines.

Brown indicated there may be a convergence down the line between these platforms but at the moment, the main goal was to search for sustainability.

"I think the exciting thing is that motor racing becomes the platform to develop these various technologies and I don't think anyone quite yet knows definitively what the future holds," added Brown.

"If there was, we would all be going in the same direction. The good news is F1 is addressing sustainability and there are different technologies in which to get there and different forms of motor racing that are going to explore it.

"Maybe that will all come together in 10 years' time or maybe there will be multiple different ways to address sustainability through the automotive industry."