Formula One has been in boom times since the takeover of American media company Liberty Media. Yet there were signs in 2023 that the much vaunted growth in the US market has peaked.

Headline TV audiences across the pond flatlined and for some races like Miami slumped significantly. Official figures now released show that despite the Las Vegas factor, TV audiences fell 10% during 2023 to an average of just 1.11 million in the USA.

 

 

 

F1 TV audiences on the wain

Certain races bucked the trend as the numbers rose to record heights for the events held in Saudi Arabia, Monaco, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Singapore and Mexico.

However the predictable nature of Red Bull winning 21 of the 22 races has had an effect on the US audience an the fall in viewership will concern the owners of the commercial rights.

Yet the Liberty Media methodology of making access easier to F1 continued and US sponsorship again grew.

Bernie Ecclestone who previously headed up the sport’s commercial interests had a different philosophy of how to maximise revenue from F1 and this was to create exclusivity.

New revelations from sacked Haas boss

 

 

 

F1 long term bet on hybrids

The number of F1 official global partners were restricted as were the number of events. Further, the use of official Formula One owned footage on social media was frowned upon as the ageing supremo failed to understand fully the power of the digital age.

Bernie also looked to deliver Formula One into Asian countries in particular with no grass roots motorsports heritage with notable failures being the Indian and Korean Grand Prix. Somewhat predictably these events had a short life span and the purpose built multi hundred million dollar circuits now lie empty and falling into decay.

Yet there’s a new threat to Formula One emerging from what many believe to be an unlikely source. The new F1 power units due to arrive in 2026 will be a development of the current hybrids but with three times more of the power coming from the electrical source.

When the decision was made to continue with hybrid power units it appeared this would be the future the big global car manufacturers would be taking being forced into new green considerations.

The Schumacher sequel not up to scratch

 

 

 

Red Bull dissent calling for V8’s return

Yet as the F1 power units were continually delayed and new regulations have come into effect banning petrol and diesel engines in Europe from 2035, it looks as though F1 bet on the wrong horse.

In the UK this year, car sellers must sell at least 27% of their annual stock as electric vehicles or face huge fines, and that percentage is set to grow year on year.

F1 could have made the decision – as Red Bull pressed for – to return to V8 combustion engines but with 100% sustainable fuels. This would of course have been relevant to the existing estimated 2 billion vehicles in the world currently in circulation.

Yet it now appears that the V6 hybrids which will remain in the sport for almost a decade after their introduction was a poor direction for F1 to have taken.

Ford’s drag racing tech in new Red Bull power unit

 

 

 

Formula E cars set to rival F1 speeds

Of course nobody believed going full EV was the right path for F1 and the Formula E series has been beset with difficulties since the series began in 2014. The inaugural cars had such poor battery life that the drivers had to switch machines half way through the race.

But all that is over as battery technology has improved over the past decade. Formula E has indeed struggled through the years to gain viewership and has now descended into a minority sport, much of which is behind a paywall across the world.

Yet the product is improving quickly and the recent introduction of super charging during the race means even quicker engine modes can be deployed. The soon to appear Gen 4 cars will feature almost double the power over the current Formula E runners which will enable longer races and quicker lap times to be delivered.

The all electric racing category is now looking to move away from the similarly configured street course on which they now run and the cars will soon be appropriate to be raced on purpose built track as as in F1.

McLaren boss says new 2024 car quicker than Red Bull

 

 

 

BIG talk from Virgin Racing CEO

Speaking to Forbes, Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO of the Envision Virgin Racing Formula E Team, believes it will be “game over” for F1 in the near future.

“It’s all about the downforce,” he says. “Today we can make an electric motor that can beat a F1 engine in acceleration, and even deliver the same high speeds.

“However, so much of lap times come from downforce. Formula E also runs tires that are half road, half racing. The weight is the same already, and with the same aero and grip it would be similarly quick.”

Formula E car design and the grooved tyres have been dictated by the lack of power and battery life which means as the technology is rapidly improving, these considerations will quickly become a thing of the past.

Astonishing transfer fee attached to Lando Norris

 

 

 

“Frankenstein machines” need revisiting

Whilst its big talk to suggest Formula One will be “game over” when its electric rival can race at similar speeds and over similar distances on identical race circuits, the 2026 engines may quickly become to look like dinosaurs.

The F1 “Frankenstein machines” Christina Horner has predicted will emerge from the 2026 regulations is clearly of concern to the FIA. Currently F1’s governing body has dismissed the Red Bull criticism as “premature” due to much of the groundwork for the chassis is yet to be decided.

Yet FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem agreed this week if necessary a new regulation framework may need to evolve.

Ecclestone says “Hamilton failed…”

 

 

 

 

F1 mission to save the combustion engine

Formula One failed to attract theist of OEM’s it believed would join the sport in 2026, with only Audi committed to become a new power unit builder. Porsche fell away after a failed attempt to buy out Red Bull and Ford are mere technical partners to the current world championship team.

Conversely, Formula E is relatively cheap for the manufacturers to enter and its current entry list sports many of the global auto names F1 hoped to attract for 2026.

F1 has missed the boat to go all electric and its next move has to be to revive the combustion engine in its entirety. Developing cheap, easily available bio fuels and road relevant technologies that can convert the F1 model to the billions of vehicles currently in use around the planet is now the only path it can tread – because sooner rather than later the current hybrids will be declared irrelevant. 

READ MORE: Surprise return of Hamilton’s ex physio and mentor