Karun Chandhok has called for the FIA to abandon its hybrid technology and adopt alternative measures in a significant rules overhaul. The Sky Sports F1 pundit believes that the organizers can eliminate heavy batteries and lead the way in using ‘sustainable fuels’.
Chandhok even proposed that the F1 bosses should consider returning to V10 engines, which were last used over 25 years ago. Chandhok shared his views on Twitter, saying, “As I’ve said on several occasions – I think it’s time for F1 to ditch the hybrids with the heavy batteries.”
He added, “Light cars with V10s screaming on sustainable fuels would be brilliant. Le Mans is pushing hybrids, FE is doing Electric, and F1 can lead development in sustainable fuels. Sadly the manufacturers will never let it happen!”
F1 introduced the new turbo-hybrid era in 2014, with Mercedes dominating before Red Bull’s recent success. However, the battery units are heavy and have seen the cars’ weights increase dramatically in the last ten years. Modern-day F1 machinery weighs a staggering 798 kilos today, compared to just 642kg back in 2013.
Chandhok reacted to a video of Ayrton Sennas’s qualifying run at the 1991 British Grand Prix, where the cars weighed just over 500kg. He said, “Awesome. This kills the theory that older shaky onboard cameras make the cars look fast. Regulation weight for these cars was 505kg without driver, so probably 575 versus 798kg now. Modern cars are much bigger in size. Smaller, more agile cars just look faster. Fact!”
While teams currently run an E10 compound, which comprises 10% renewable materials, F1 is set to race on fully sustainable fuel from 2026, as organizers attempt to make the series carbon-neutral by 2030. Tweaks are in the pipeline, with the car’s MGU-H system set to be removed at the next rules cycle from 2026.
