Mercedes could have left F1

This was revealed to the BBC by Professor Thomas Weber, member of the board of directors of Daimler and head of research and development.

Published on 09/04/2014 à 10:11

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“The main challenge for the future is fuel economy and efficiency and changing regulations F1 is the spearhead for development, explains Weber to the BBC. It was difficult to explain why F1 still used the old V8 engines. »

The firm would also undoubtedly have withdrawn if F1 had not decided in 2009 to embark on the path to energy efficiency. “We discussed it. We had different views on the F1 challenge and we discussed it at the supervisory board. Now, with these new regulations, I can clearly convince the supervisory board that the F1 team is doing exactly what we need: downsizing, direct injection, fuel efficiency at the highest level. higher possible, new technologies and the combination of a combustion engine with a hybrid engine. »

Weber also mentions a stupid debate when Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, says the fuel flow restriction is too complicated for the public to understand.