I just read the about Toyota pulling out of F1, another blow to the sport. I guess I can see why they would opt out. These are other possible reasons apart from the obvious ones of cost and lack of race wins:
- Limited Scope for Inovation in the current F1 highly regulated envoironment. In fact restrictions have been put in place on performance and innovations. The possibility of F1 derived technology being used in their core business is severly limited.
- The marketing power of running an F1 car was mostly beneficial for the higher end of the car market - sportcars and luxury cars. In light of the severe economic corrections taking place, the value of this market is likely to be shrinking.
- The petrol/diesel engine has a limited lifespan left. Its not going to be profitable to continue to invest heavily in soon to be obselete technology.
Its clear that a shift to sustainable motoring in starting to take place. All the investment these days is in hybrid engines, electric cars and even biofuel technology. People dont discuss 0 to 60 times that much anymore or break horsepower. Nowadays people are talking about miles per gallon and Co2 emissions.
I think F1 can turn the tide by shifting with the current trends, and making the series centered on electric cars.
Before you think it would be lame, take a look at this
Telsa Roadster . It does 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds with a topspeed of 201 kph. When Jeremy Clarkson drove it on Top Gear his qoutes were "God almighty!" "This car is Biblically quick!". It can do 244 miles on one charge.
I could easily envision big car manufacturers scrambling to take the title of fastest sustainable green car! I say have no performance or design limitations or specifications. Just an innovation free-for-all, first electric car past the chequered flag wins!
It will probably happen eventually - lets just get on with it already!
