Sebastian Vettel gives his show of approval for the use of biofuels or synthetic fuels in F1 planned from 2023.
The V6 hybrid turbo era has been pretty disappointing for the spectacle Formula 1 is. There has been just ONE winner since it was introduced in 2014 – Mercedes. This season has been particularly painful to watch, with even the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari unable to provide genuine competition to the German giants. Before 2014, Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive titles with Red Bull, but it was in no way one-way traffic.
The latest on the Red Bull engine situation and another implicit quit threat: https://t.co/WPmARECH7q
— Scott Mitchell (@SMitchellF1) October 25, 2020
And now with Formula 1 planning to implement 100% synthetic fuels (also known as biofuels or e-fuels) by 2023, Vettel has given his nod for it. Speaking to Sky Sports, he feels these sustainable eco-friendly fuels could make a difference. The difference would be multi-faceted, with both the planet and the F1 world benefitting.
“There are some plans for the future and I think the most interesting is the intention to use biofuels or synthetic fuels in the future. That could really make a difference.”
“We have the technology and the right engineers to make faster progress, and that is a whole new role for Formula 1. We have the resources and we are wasting a lot of money. So why not use it for something useful that can also be implemented on the road.”
Mercedes committed to the use of synthetic fuels in F1
Speaking recently at a digital conference, Mercedes’ parents Daimler committed to F1 and the use of synthetic fuels. Ola Kallenius, chairman, called Formula 1 the ideal platform to test new technologies and fuels, including synthetic fuels.
“In Formula 1 we can test hybrid technology and new fuels. We’ll stay with that. The net financial impact will be halved in the next three years. We have an even more aggressive cost reduction target in Formula One than for the rest of the company.”
Before you go: Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Alex Albon reveal their choices to fill the vacant venue slot in the 2021 F1 calendar