---
title: "Mercedes’ Formula E entry highlights future F1 issue"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/10/05/mercedes-formula-e-future-f1-issue/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Issatt"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2016-10-05T13:49:28Z"
modified: "2016-10-05T14:01:28Z"
---

# Mercedes’ Formula E entry highlights future F1 issue

There was real surprise when Mercedes confirmed it was be joining the Formula E grid for season five in 2018/19.

Some reacted by considering how the Silver Arrow has dominated Formula One over the past three years and quipped how those in Formula E may as well give up.

But as another major recognised car brand Jaguar prepare to make their debut in the season three opener in Hong Kong this weekend, Mercedes’ decision highlights the shift in manufacturers thinking regarding their motorsport programmes.

![Handout/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/10/544402234.jpg)

Renault, Audi and Citroen all currently have an involvement in Formula E and BMW have also linked up with the MS Amlin Andretti team to make a total of five carmakers all with a stake in the electric series this season.

As the technology continues to develop, interest from manufacturers will only continue to increase. Indeed, Mercedes’ future participation is proof of how quickly Formula E is becoming the place for the big car brands to invest.

The gains made technologically have already been incredible and with carmakers keen to transfer that into everyday road vehicles it makes complete sense to get involved.

But at the same time, this puts pressure on F1 and the World Endurance Championship to remain attractive to those same manufacturers all currently jumping to Formula E.

For the WEC its appeal is already set in place. The LMP1 hybrids put a greater focus on energy regeneration with a much smaller internal combustion engine and the level of restrictions in place are far fewer than those imposed in F1.

![Ker Robertson/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/10/541224768.jpg)

Though the costs are perhaps as high for the big manufacturers, they are much better focussed than F1 with much more development on the power unit and the mechanics as opposed to the millions spent on a new front wing.

The series is also less embroiled in politics and all the behind the scenes rubbish that often hinders F1 progress.

Oh and then there’s the small matter of the races, they focus on endurance, on reliability, on efficiency all of which make the WEC much more road relevant than Formula 1.

At this stage, you begin to wonder why on earth any manufacturer would want to join F1? Yet it is the prestige factor that continues to be a draw.

Formula 1 is still the pinnacle of motorsport and for names like Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda, the historical importance of F1 to their brand makes the idea of leaving, regardless of the rules, almost incomprehensible.

But with Formula E and the WEC quickly becoming more lucrative options what can the sport do to attract other manufacturers back?

This has been a question that F1 has tried to answer for years. Toyota, Honda and Jaguar are some of the names that have quit since 2000, even if Honda has since returned.

The change to hybrid power was the reason for the Japanese carmaker’s comeback with McLaren, but it has done little to capture the interest of other brands.

Some of that can also be put down to the economic climate in recent years but ultimately, as a product, F1’s marketing pitch simply isn’t good enough.

The sport does also have to consider staying close to what have been its ideals for 66 years now but how can it remain about the fastest cars in a time of efficiency and alternative power sources?

![Clive Rose/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/10/611941492.jpg)

The current hybrid era has a decent amount of steam left within it. The room for development is still enormous in many directions and that mix of high-performance V6 and ERS does have some appeal to carmakers, look at the McLaren P1 or the Porsche 918 for example.

With the opening up of engine development from next year, it will be interesting to see how each unit evolves over the season, especially considering the progress Renault and Honda have made during this year under the tokens system.

However, it’s an engine formula that can’t last forever, therefore, a long-term goal that Formula 1 may want to consider is a change to hydrogen power perhaps as early as 2025.

Hydrogen is seen as many as the power source of the future with the only emission from the exhaust being water. Much like Formula E is starting to push electric cars, Formula 1 could certainly bring itself back to relevancy among carmakers with such a bold change.

Given the properties of hydrogen, performance levels would remain high and F1 would be able to remain the sport it is today.

Failure to do so would see the last carmakers disappear and the teams become franchises run by big business. That would take the sport down a path which over the long-term simply wouldn’t be sustainable.

But, if done correctly, F1, WEC and Formula E can all offer a platform both for top-level motorsport for drivers and fans alike as well as the development of sustainable road relevant technologies for the world’s top car manufacturers.