Formula One: F1 to become Environmentally friendly?
All the Formula One teams have recently announced that they would be taking a more active and vital role in helping the world fight environmental hazards as well as ever increasing pollution.
Among their initial steps they have announced to make plans to reduce carbon emission by the sport and focus on technological ideas to turn the sport more environment friendly. However, most of the analysts as well as fans think that such is not possible especially with the current FIA rules.
It was revealed by FIA last week that the teams have volunteered and have mutually come to a consensus to tackle the environmental issues which are rising alarmingly. After environmental research carried out by experts of Formula One, they have started plans that could help the sport reduce carbon emissions by more than 12 per cent by the end of 2013.
One major step that had been taken over the years is the reduction in track testing as well as wind tunnel time. It was actually done to cut cost but it has put a very positive impact on the sport's carbon emission levels as well.
But looking at the global scale this is of very little importance, F1 needs to give developing solutions to benefit the world in real terms. One cannot forget the fact that Formula One has the best engineers from around the world under its umbrella. The amount of technical advancements that take place here are simply incomparable. The same way it uses aggressive and progressive technology in its cars and engines, it can help the world reduce carbon emissions.
However, the race calendar is expanding every year, as Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One President, has kept races at more than twenty each year. The FIA caravan now moves to all parts of the world from Asia to the Middle East, America and Europe as well as to the farthest continent of the world, Australia. With such gigantic moves around the globe the travel of truck and train had reduced and air and shipping has increased. Thus, water and air is also being affected more directly. Therefore, one can safely say that what carbon emission is seen on the race tracks is only twenty percent of the total damage that the sport does to the environment.
With these facts one can only imagine how the FIA and the teams can do their share to control the hazards to the environment and this sport could be nature friendly.
Martin Whitmarsh, the CEO of McLaren Racing, said that the teams are devoted towards introducing new engines with lower capacity, direct injection higher kinetic energy and thermal recovery. He added that these are the technologies that Formula One should be showcasing as that is not a tough thing for the sport with the potential they actually possess.
It is not a new trend in the western world for every company to announce carbon cutting programs. However, FIA has the potential and technology required to rescue the green life of the planet by adding their share to the pollution control campaigns, especially when it has contributed so much in adding carbon to the environment.
It is now time to wait and see how many claims from the teams and FIA actually turn into reality. Will there promises ever materialised?
Tags: