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Formula 1 will never go electric, says CEO

Smoke billows from the brakes of Sergio Perez of Mexico and Force India's car as he drives during day two of F1 winter testing at Circuit de Catalunya on 23 February 2016 in Montmeló, Spain. (Photo: Dan Istitene / Getty Images / Dan Istitene / Getty Images Europe)

Formula 1 'will never switch to electric', Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive officer of the motor sport group, said in an interview published by Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore on Sunday.

To help lower emissions, F1 is developing a zero-emission petrol that “could be used by planes and vessels” as well, Domenicali said.

Domenicali criticised politicians for setting impossible energy-transition targets and for having an ideological approach to electric, which has become “an indisputable dogma”.

“It’s possible to reach zero emissions without changing engines or throwing away existing cars,” Domenicali told the newspaper.

This week, the European Parliament signed off on a deal reached with member states last year that requires automakers to reach a zero-emission target by 2035 and to cut pollution levels by 55% this decade.

Acquired in 2017 by US-based Liberty Media in a $4.4-billion deal, Formula 1 has embarked under Domenicali on a plan to both expand its popularity and its geographical reach, especially in the US.

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  • Bruce Sobey says:

    Never say never. A big advantage of Formula 1 has been the carry over of technology from racing to production vehicles. If all production vehicles are electric that benefit will fall away together with sponsorship.

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