F1 bio-fuels would not deter sponsors - Brown

Wolff had suggested partners would turn away from the sport if high-revving engines returned

Sam Hall

Saturday 7 August 2021 16:40

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is confident F1 would lose none of its partners should the sport adopt louder bio-fueled engines.

The debate over what engines F1 will run in 2025 and beyond is one that continues to rage with some parties interested in pursuing a larger electrical element and others favouring a return to louder, high-revving engines but powered with sustainable fuels.

Brown had sat between Mercedes and Red Bull team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner as the two exchanged opposing views, with Wolff declaring the sport would "turn every single business partner away from Formula 1" if screaming engines returned.

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Giving his verdict, Brown declared: “Obviously, I heard that debate and I think first and foremost, what is most important is that Formula 1 is sustainable and you can get there a variety of different ways.

"I do not think sponsors, as long as Formula 1 is sustainable, are concerned over how you get to sustainability. “So if it is an ICE unit with sustainable fuels or if it is electric, hybrid, whatever…the important thing is that Formula 1 is leading-edge technology and sustainability is critically important to the sport and the world.

“I think what you heard there was more of a view of an OEM who probably wants the sustainability element to be consistent with how they go to market.

"So I think what is important to the corporate partners is sustainability. I think they are less concerned about what the product is to get you there."

OEM desires "have to be taken into consideration"

Brown, who has confirmed he did not attend the engine meeting in Austria, conceded F1 cannot disregard the wishes of OEMs, with manufacturers eager to develop technology for the road as well as the track.

He explained: “I think the OEMs, probably, understandably want the technology to be consistent with how they are going to go to market.

"So I think you’ve got two different opinions there but the question is do I think fans and corporate partners would be turned off if Formula 1 was sustainable but in a technology direction that was maybe different than the automotive industry. I do not think corporate partners or the fans would mind at all.

“But we do have to take into consideration the OEMs because they are a massive part of the sport, huge contributors and we need them.

“You had Christian coming at it from his point of view and Toto. I don’t think either was right or wrong but both of their solutions would satisfy the corporate world.”