Alberto Longo, co-founder of Formula E, has voiced his disagreement with Formula 1’s recent moves to align its regulations with those of the electric championship. He believes that F1 should stick to its core principles instead of veering towards Formula E. The major technical overhaul in F1 this year has led to a significant increase in the electrical component of the power unit, drawing comparisons to Formula E from drivers like Max Verstappen. Despite being a fan of F1, Longo expressed concerns that the new regulations might be detrimental to the spectacle and show of the championship.
In contrast to F1, Formula E cars have not encountered issues with running out of energy on straights, highlighting the differences in energy management between the two series. The co-founder emphasized the distinctive propositions of Formula E and F1, suggesting that F1 should not attempt to emulate Formula E. Longo also discussed the potential for Formula E to serve as a testing ground for new circuits, especially with the upcoming introduction of the more powerful Gen4 car in the future.
Further, Longo predicted that F1 would increasingly look to Formula E for expertise in electrical technology as the former transitions towards more hybrid and electric systems. Several Formula E drivers are already contributing to F1 teams, indicating a growing cross-pollination of talent between the two championships. Lastly, Longo emphasized Formula E’s role as a platform for electromobility and electric racing, anticipating that F1 would draw from Formula E’s pool of technical experts, engineers, and drivers in the future.
