Vettel not a fan of future Formula E
The FIA recently launched a single-seater championship with electric engines, with the first edition set to take place in 2014-2015. However, while this championship is attracting considerable interest, it is not the case for everyone, notably the recent four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel.
The year 2014 will see the emergence of a new world championship under the auspices of the FIA, Formula E. This discipline aims to be the counterpart of Formula 1 but in the field of electric motorization. Gone is the noise of F1 cars; the races will take place on city circuits in major cities worldwide (London, Berlin, Monaco, Los Angeles, Miami, as well as Buenos Aires and Beijing).
Big names have joined this championship, such as McLaren, Renault, or Williams. But one of the uncertainties—just like with the introduction of the V6—remains the almost nonexistent sound of the electric engine.
Questioned during the press conference held after the qualifying in India, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Lewis Hamilton gave their opinions on this future championship. And the least that can be said is that the one who was not yet a four-time world champion is not a big fan of this new concept.
« I don’t like it at all. I think it’s not the future, I think people come here to feel Formula 1 and there’s nothing like when a car starts and you hear nothing but the wind. Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned, but I think Formula 1 needs to make noise, there needs to be vibrations. That’s what I remember when I saw Formula 1 for the first time in 1992 during the free practice at Hockenheim, even though it was wet and the cars weren’t going out, but once their installation laps were done, it was a great feeling to be there and hear them coming through the forest and feel it in the ground. That’s why I’m not a big fan, » Vettel shared.
Nico Rosberg, on the other hand, was less categorical and more vague, considering that it brought something new, which is a good thing, but we’ll have to wait and see what it will yield: « It’s something interesting, that’s for sure. Something new, and I know there’s a lot of interest and it’s planned to take place in cities, so it brings the race to the people, it’s not the people going to the races, and obviously, it’s somewhat the future. So it will be interesting to see how it goes. We must wait and see what it will bring. »
Lewis Hamilton was the least forthcoming on the subject, only stating that he agreed with his two colleagues.
