Renault claim Formula 1 must become more if not fully electric to avoid being “left behind” with engine technology.
Today’s hybrid power units only produce around 16% of their total output from electricity through the Energy Recovery System, however, advances in development offer path to vastly increase that number in the future.
Currently, Formula E has the rights as motorsport’s only fully-electric single-seater motorsport category, but Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul believes that is the direction F1 needs to head in.
“If I look the pace at which the world is changing, in my opinion, there is a huge risk that F1 will be left behind,” he said.
“The world is moving at a very fast pace, and we have to be very careful not to be left behind the road car industry.
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“Look at the Greta Thunberg’s of this world, look at electrification. Whatever we think of electrification, it’s not going to go away.
“Things that people are saying today, they would not even have considered six months ago. Ferrari talking about a full-electric car!”
Renault has made similar noises before as they led the push for the V6 engines which were eventually introduced in 2014 and now they are looking ahead to the next era of engine regulations due around 2026.
“It’s seven years from now, it seems super far. I’m thinking not just for myself, I’m thinking for F1 as a community,” Abiteboul continued.
“Basically what that means is I’m trying everything I can and urging everyone to fast track the consideration for a new power unit.
“What it should be, what it should look like, what it should cost, and stopping spending a crazy amount of money.
“Probably that would mean at some point slowing down the investment in the internal combustion engine and increasing development towards the electric parts.
“Maybe [we should] also consider new sources of energy, like the fuel cell or things like that, which will probably be the future of F1.”