In the round-up: Volkswagen says it will focus its future factory-backed motorsport programmes on electric racing.
[dietersinboxpromo]
Snapshot: Volkswagen cuts non-electric factory motorsport projects

“Electric mobility offers enormous development potential and in this regard motorsport can be a trailblazer,” said Volkswagen motorsport director Sven Smeets.
“On the one hand, it serves as a dynamic laboratory for the development of future production cars and, on the other, as a convincing marketing platform to inspire people even more towards electric mobility.
“That is why we are going to focus more than ever on factory-backed electric drive commitments and continue to expand our activities with the development of the MEB. Innovative technology relevant to the car of the future is our focus.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
What an AWESOME way to start this season with @MercedesEQFE !! 1st Race, 1st Points, 1st PODIUM!🥉🏆 Feeling very proud of everyone that has made this possible, let’s keep this momentum going! pic.twitter.com/oqTBeGtbMH
— Stoffel Vandoorne (@svandoorne) November 22, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5LZyvdCoWq/?igshid=5z8bu6dhhj05
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
How Formula 1 will lead the charge to use biofuels (F1)
"We can do is we can show the world that there are alternatives to electric power and there are alternatives to storing electricity in heavy and, I have to say, somewhat dirty batteries"
Elkann striglia piloti, conta solo che vinca la Ferrari (Ansa - Italian)
Ferrari chairman John Elkann says he is "very angry" about Sunday's race, when the two Ferrari drivers collided with you.
"A new need for funding is said to have led to Coyne’s decision to stand Bourdais down in favor of finding a paying driver to complete the entry’s operating budget."
Hulkenberg opens up on 'sad' F1 exit, but says he's not retiring (Sky)
"I'm definitely a fan of open-wheeler racing. (2020) will be a true test for me, because all my life has been about racing and now not to have that will be quite a shock and quite a contrast."
Ericsson: Ganassi seat a once-in-a-lifetime chance (Motorsport Week)
"I’m ready for that. I’m used to that from the (Formula 1) paddock. You always have high pressure on your shoulders, and pressure to deliver, I like it."
Lauda's tough love - his great bond with Hamilton (Motorsport magazine)
"Lauda had responded with, 'If you saw he was on reduced power, it makes more sense to choose the outside, no? That was your mistake.' No-one else in Hamilton’s camp would be in a position to offer such tough love advice; they wouldn’t have the driving stature."
Van Amersfoort Racing confirms plan to join Euroformula Open (Formula Scout)
"Formula 3 is in the DNA of our team and we are definitely confirming our intention to be in the Euroformula next season, hopefully with at least two cars."
Building character - Renault & Formula One (Autocar India)
Cyril Abiteboul: "In my opinion we have made a good step on engine power, as demonstrated by top speed on a number of tracks that are sensitive to that. The driver line-up... is a strong one. Mechanically, the car is good. We know what’s missing and that’s clearly the current focus right now. We are putting everything into it."
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Comment of the day
Isn’t Artem Markelov getting a bit long in the tooth as a Formula 2 driver?
In my opinion, the point of feeder series is to, well, feed the higher series. There is something seriously wrong somewhere (not enough seats in F1, too much money poured into F2 by sponsors who want to keep their drivers there, etc.) if there are these “old timers” going round season after season.
@Kaiie
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Nina Wood and Karthikeyan!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
@HoHum (@hohum)
23rd November 2019, 0:19
@keithcollantine, I think your headline above VW article should read ” VW cuts combustion motorsport” not ” cuts non-combustion motorsport”.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
23rd November 2019, 1:46
@hohum: Keith was probably electric with excitement when his carbon fingers mis-printed it. ;-)
AlexS
23rd November 2019, 0:24
VW expected corporate sycophancy to “green” , Elkaan well what more can be said when he is Ferrari President.
Nice link to a great article on Lauda Hamilton relationship. One problem of famous people is shown when Hamilton says Lauda was “real”. Many just change themselves when dealing with a famous person.
Ciaran (@walsh-f1)
23rd November 2019, 2:14
Don’t really post here much anymore but I’ve been just thinking about something you did on here (back when this site was F1Fanatic) Keith 10 years ago and ran a feature on the best races of the noughties, including a poll in which we voted on. I liked that article a lot and I was thinking; could you do that again? Brazil last week might rank up there, so will Germany this year, Baku 2017, Brazil 2012 and Canada 2011 as well are contenders. Just a suggestion.
Balue (@balue)
24th November 2019, 14:50
@walsh-f1 Very good idea, but IMO best shouldn’t be confused with most exciting like these safety car races.
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
23rd November 2019, 7:36
Damn, Seabass. Hope you land somewhere
There it is then, the official end to VAG even considering developing any kind of PU for F1. And I don’t see anyone else having the resources or expressed any real interest to get into the game.
anon
23rd November 2019, 9:13
@uneedafinn2win, the odds of VW ever developing an engine for F1 were rather slim anyway. They took part in negotiations over the current rule package – Newey has claimed that the only reason the original rule package was a four cylinder inline engine was because VW asked for it – only to then back out anyway.
They’ve never seemed especially keen on it anyway – the only part that might have been interested might have been Porsche, but we’ve seen how VW has redirected their programmes from the WEC to Formula E instead. VW’s been cutting back their motorsport programmes for some time now – they’d cut their rallying projects and they’d withdrawn from the WEC, so to some extent they’d already been signalling a declining interest in conventional motorsport series for a few years now.
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd November 2019, 7:42
So definitely no VW in F1 unless F1 were to become fully-electric series someday, nor return to WRC.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
23rd November 2019, 7:43
It’s great to see Brendon back behind the wheel of a racing car. I hope he does well.
Sad F1 Fan
23rd November 2019, 8:46
World wide 30% of all cars are gigantic SUVs and in the “west” thats nearer to 50%.
Cars are just getting heavier and heavier.
ColdFly (@)
23rd November 2019, 9:03
Another innovation pioneered by F1 :P
Gabriel (@rethla)
23rd November 2019, 15:32
@coldfly Hahaha, fantastic! ;)
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
24th November 2019, 0:38
In some areas around here (N of the 49th) it is closer to 90% for SUVs.
They need the room to drive the tribe to the “Save The World” rally.
Saw a trivia piece that it was currently NOT legal to drive a Tesla Model X across the Brooklyn Bridge.
ColdFly (@)
23rd November 2019, 9:05
Formula E has already hit back at Formula 1 and will introduce a bio-battery. (link)
snailspaceslim (@snailspaceslim)
23rd November 2019, 13:29
Very sharp! :)
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
23rd November 2019, 18:13
@coldfly but F1 got state-of-the-art bio-drivers ;)
socksolid (@socksolid)
23rd November 2019, 18:11
I’d guess volkswagen will now fly their electric race cars around the world in electric airplanes… wait nevermind…
Sam Donaldson from ABC News
25th November 2019, 4:44
oh very good sir….clap clap clap
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
24th November 2019, 7:19
I’ve read about abiotic oil, but if most people agree that we should call them fossil fuel, it’s already at 100% bio-components.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th November 2019, 11:26
About the CotD – solid point you make there @kaiie, but I disagree. I think a series can only offer a good basis if there are both promising talents, but also quite capable and relatively consistent experienced hands to measure them against.
RB13
25th November 2019, 13:46
The composition on that roundup cover image is an absolute work of art.
The car doesn’t look too shabby for a milkfloat either.