2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg believes it is inevitable the sport will have to move away from petrol engines in the future.
The German has taken a notable interest in the all-electric series Formula E in the past year, becoming an investor and debuting the new Gen 2 in Berlin which was introduced for the recently started Season 5.
While within F1 there is a great deal of debate about and still plenty of opposition to the possibility of about merging or following Formula E into an all-electric powertrain, Rosberg puts that down to the nature of the sport.
“When I was a Formula 1 driver I was completely focused just on what I was doing and then when it stopped it was all gone and I had to look at the world and say, ‘what’s out there?’,” he explained at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“I’m bringing this fast lane approach to the slow lane and I really believe that’s a strength because F1 is so hyper fast-paced, even in decision-making.
“There’s so much talk, talk, talk [about electric automobiles] but little action sometimes. This is something I learned in F1 and I can really transfer this over and it could be really beneficial.
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The growth of Formula E in its short existence can’t be doubted with the number of major manufacturers showing an interest and the rapid development of the electric motors in that time also.
And Rosberg thinks the perception of alternative power sources is starting to change throughout the auto and motorsport industry.
“If the whole world is selling electric cars, or hydrogen-powered cars, Formula 1 can’t still be running on petrol engines, that wouldn’t make sense,” he claimed. “At some point, they will have to switch I believe.
“Two years ago, everybody was like: ‘Nah, nah, electric cars’, and now even some of the craziest petrolheads are already starting to be open-minded about it and it’s starting to become cool very quickly.”