Future Relevance of F1
Discussion
I have been pondering recently that F1 in the not so distant future could find itself at a cross roads.
The road car industry is going full EV so traditionally you would expect F1 to follow this trend to keep the manufacturers happy and engaged in the sport.
However such a big change could be argued is a risk for the sport or maybe not?
Many people complain about the hybrid era yet the sport has never been in better health in terms of viewership and engagement so maybe the engines don't matter? Although watching the way a crowd lights up when one of the old cars is wheeled out is quite telling.
It got me thinking what if they decided not to follow the road car industry? Could it be an opportunity for F1 to accept that it is exclusively in the entertainment business therefore the link to the road car industry isn't necessary. Leading to rule changes to make the cars as exciting as possible most notably bring back the engines that the fans want as well as lighter smaller cars etc.
They would probably lose some of the big manufacturers for a while but it might attract other teams and brands to the sport. I think after a while the manufacturers would come back if F1 is big enough. As it would still be good for their brand to be associated with something as glamorous and exotics F1 that enthusiasts are excited about as well.
After all F1 will never be able to get green lobby on side as the whole concept of going all over the world to drive around in circles is a massive waste of resources however you try to spin it. They could still run it sensibly with synthetic fuels and attempt to limit the travel to be greener.
So what do we think the future holds?
The road car industry is going full EV so traditionally you would expect F1 to follow this trend to keep the manufacturers happy and engaged in the sport.
However such a big change could be argued is a risk for the sport or maybe not?
Many people complain about the hybrid era yet the sport has never been in better health in terms of viewership and engagement so maybe the engines don't matter? Although watching the way a crowd lights up when one of the old cars is wheeled out is quite telling.
It got me thinking what if they decided not to follow the road car industry? Could it be an opportunity for F1 to accept that it is exclusively in the entertainment business therefore the link to the road car industry isn't necessary. Leading to rule changes to make the cars as exciting as possible most notably bring back the engines that the fans want as well as lighter smaller cars etc.
They would probably lose some of the big manufacturers for a while but it might attract other teams and brands to the sport. I think after a while the manufacturers would come back if F1 is big enough. As it would still be good for their brand to be associated with something as glamorous and exotics F1 that enthusiasts are excited about as well.
After all F1 will never be able to get green lobby on side as the whole concept of going all over the world to drive around in circles is a massive waste of resources however you try to spin it. They could still run it sensibly with synthetic fuels and attempt to limit the travel to be greener.
So what do we think the future holds?
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I worry for F1, they are too far up themselves.
If Red Bull drinks wake up one day & decide they've had enough of F1 the whole bag of mashings is likely to collapse.
Would it though? If Red Bull drinks wake up one day & decide they've had enough of F1 the whole bag of mashings is likely to collapse.
There would still be 9 teams and there will be people in the background who would jump at the chance to buy the teams.
Red Bull is not bigger than F1.
Gtom said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I worry for F1, they are too far up themselves.
If Red Bull drinks wake up one day & decide they've had enough of F1 the whole bag of mashings is likely to collapse.
Would it though? If Red Bull drinks wake up one day & decide they've had enough of F1 the whole bag of mashings is likely to collapse.
There would still be 9 teams and there will be people in the background who would jump at the chance to buy the teams.
Red Bull is not bigger than F1.
F1 has only had a semblance of relevance to road cars for about a decade now. Before that there was no real connection, and no attempt to make a connection. What did a 20k rpm V8 have to do with road cars? They were just the pinnacle of internal combustion technology at the time.
I'm sure they'll be fine if they have to break the illusion of relevance to hybrid or EV road cars at some point in the future. Manufacturers will come and go as they always have. There were more manufacturers in F1 in the previous V8 era than there are now, so the lack of relevance didn't concern them then. They just wanted to compete, and be seen to compete.
Most people watch F1 for the sporting element and the personalities involved, not because of the technicalities of the motive power. Most casual fans wouldn't be able to tell you what engine configuration they used anyway.
I'm sure they'll be fine if they have to break the illusion of relevance to hybrid or EV road cars at some point in the future. Manufacturers will come and go as they always have. There were more manufacturers in F1 in the previous V8 era than there are now, so the lack of relevance didn't concern them then. They just wanted to compete, and be seen to compete.
Most people watch F1 for the sporting element and the personalities involved, not because of the technicalities of the motive power. Most casual fans wouldn't be able to tell you what engine configuration they used anyway.
ntiz said:
It got me thinking what if they decided not to follow the road car industry? Could it be an opportunity for F1 to accept that it is exclusively in the entertainment business therefore the link to the road car industry isn't necessary.
I have a similar view.The irony is that the current era of F1 is the most closely aligned it's been to the mainstream motor industry. In the past, it never tried to be or hung on to vague claims about technology crossover but was only really a marketing exercise for the car firms involved. These days the alignment is more integrated.
You could look at Horse Racing as an example.
This evolved as a means for breeders to demonstrate their prowess and breed quality at a time when horses were the primary beast of burden. If a breeder's horses were winning races, it increased the value of their 'normal' horses to those that needed them. When cars came along, the need for horses as 'tools' diminished. Horse ownership became something you did for fun, Horse racing continued for the same reason. We could see the same happen to F1.
There have already been those within it talking of non-hybrid V10s running on 100% bio fuels so I think it possible it could end up that way.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Gtom said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I worry for F1, they are too far up themselves.
If Red Bull drinks wake up one day & decide they've had enough of F1 the whole bag of mashings is likely to collapse.
Would it though? If Red Bull drinks wake up one day & decide they've had enough of F1 the whole bag of mashings is likely to collapse.
There would still be 9 teams and there will be people in the background who would jump at the chance to buy the teams.
Red Bull is not bigger than F1.
This has been said about Ferrari for years when they throw a wobbly and threaten to walk out. They hold more cards than a lot of teams and even then I doubt it would signal the end of F1.
Regardless of what we debate here, rule changes and things we don't like, this is the pinnacle and is currently on an upward trend.
I think the connect between F1 manufacturers and their road cars became thin a long time ago. Take Mercedes for example - it's all about marketing, pure and simple. As long as there's a Merc F1 car pounding around the track they're getting huge exposure, especially given the worldwide viewing figures. I think they could basically run a milkfloat with sponsors livery and they'd still get the same result in terms of marketing.
Jasandjules said:
The car industry won't go full EV because people don't want milk floats.
Sorry but that is wrong. Everybody I know that has an EV loves it. The only issue is range. But the next gen cars can do 400 miles, and they are already testing cars with 700 mile range.The only people fighting against EVs are people who want an engine. Car enthusiasts. But they are getting older, the younger generations don't care about cars as much. So as costs come down and range goes up everybody will buy an EV. So teams in F1 really do have an issue.
DMC2 said:
Jasandjules said:
The car industry won't go full EV because people don't want milk floats.
Sorry but that is wrong. Everybody I know that has an EV loves it. The only issue is range. But the next gen cars can do 400 miles, and they are already testing cars with 700 mile range.The only people fighting against EVs are people who want an engine. Car enthusiasts. But they are getting older, the younger generations don't care about cars as much. So as costs come down and range goes up everybody will buy an EV. So teams in F1 really do have an issue.
holes, everyone has one.F1 would die if it went full EV imho, why on earth would people tune into F1 if it was also BEV cars - they'd just watch FE surely? Different strokes for different folks, some prefer engines some prefer batteries.
"Formula 1’s global fanbase reached 827 million in 2025, with a year-on-year increase of 12% and a 63% increase versus 2018"
"Formula E has revealed that 561 million people tuned into season 11, a 14% increase on season 10."
TX.
Eventually fans will be priced out as more and more sport washing goes on, so races closer to homewill become hugely expensive demand wise
Its only bigger now coz of a tv show, that has captured huge numbers of rans, they are in now, but will it last, I dont find F1 at all interesting racing wise, it is often staggeringly dull, predictable and boring, but people for some reason love it
So why notcash in now
In termsof EV, i doubt F1 goes that way, as we wont go that way, ev is fine, but if yo7want us all in one there are not the power generators, resources, charging to even remotely permit this, it is just a cash cow for the middle classes and will be for a while yet
Its only bigger now coz of a tv show, that has captured huge numbers of rans, they are in now, but will it last, I dont find F1 at all interesting racing wise, it is often staggeringly dull, predictable and boring, but people for some reason love it
So why notcash in now
In termsof EV, i doubt F1 goes that way, as we wont go that way, ev is fine, but if yo7want us all in one there are not the power generators, resources, charging to even remotely permit this, it is just a cash cow for the middle classes and will be for a while yet
thegreenhell said:
We're a long way from full EV F1, even if there was a will for it to go there. Look how st FE still is - sprint races with slow cars on Mickey Mouse circuits. They don't currently have the technology to make an EV go fast enough for long enough to be interesting for F1.
To be fair, the latest FE car could probably just about be competitive in a 12-lap Formula Regional race on a proper circuit. t FE still is - sprint races with slow cars on Mickey Mouse circuits. They don't currently have the technology to make an EV go fast enough for long enough to be interesting for F1.Not that anyone dares to actually make a comparison anywhere other than Monaco.
Im not sure F1 has had any relevance to road cars for a long time, and in my opinion it shouldn't, i hope it is brave enough to go its own way.
Red bull have shown that you dont need a manufacturer, they are even making their own engines now.
Lets face it, how many people buy a car of the back of a F1 race, a touring car race maybe. An F1 car has nothing in common with a road car.
I think F1 could manage without manufacturers if it wanted to.
Personally i dont think the big manufacturers do a sport any good, they come in, spend a fortune so everyone else has to, then have a tantrum and leave.
Red bull have shown that you dont need a manufacturer, they are even making their own engines now.
Lets face it, how many people buy a car of the back of a F1 race, a touring car race maybe. An F1 car has nothing in common with a road car.
I think F1 could manage without manufacturers if it wanted to.
Personally i dont think the big manufacturers do a sport any good, they come in, spend a fortune so everyone else has to, then have a tantrum and leave.
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