Formula One will try to attract manufacturers to the sport by radically changing the specification of its racing cars; engines are likely to be further reduced in size and the amount of fuel the cars are permitted to use during testing and racing will be capped.
It is hoped the move towards greater fuel efficiency will tempt manufacturers that currently are unable to justify the huge costs associated with competing in Formula One. Top teams spend hundreds of millions of pounds each year on developing their cars.
Honda, BMW and Toyota recently withdrew form Formula One racing.
How Formula One cars might change
| Formula One cars | 2010 | 2013 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine size | 2.4 litre V8 | 1.6 turbocharged V6 | ? |
| Fuel efficiency | less than 5mpg | 10mpg | |
| Fuel cap | None | Introduced | 50% reduction |
| Maximum engine revs | 18,000 | 10,000 | ? |
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Improvements in fuel efficiency are welcome, but the environmental impact of the petrol used by these cars pales compared to the emissions associated with flying the entire teams around the world. If races become as much about optimum fuel efficiency as speed, the companies may see them as a commercially useful test bed for their ordinary cars”
A new emphasis on fuel efficiency will be the latest in a long list of changes made to Formula One cars over the years. Engine sizes have been reduced to curb acceleration and revolutions are limited to 18,000 rpm to improve reliability and reduce costs.
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