Formula 1 may be full of verve, drama and action, as the just concluded Monaco GP showed, but it’s off the subject when it comes to obtaining information and technology to better one’s road cars, so says the likes of Audi.
According to reports, Ingolstadt thinks something like Le Mans is a more pertinent arena for manufacturers to get the all the necessary, as Audi’s motorsport boss, Wolfgang Ullrich, states rather clearly.
“There’s a very good reason why we are not in F1. There’s no relevance to the road,” Ullrich was quoted as telling Car mag. “Audi has always been engaged in motorsport that’s relevant to our customers such as rallying and touring cars, which brought quattro, FSI and TFSI to our road cars,” he added.
“This is why in 1999, we decided against F1. Instead, we decided to take on the greatest race in the world. We went for Le Mans,” Ullrich stated.
The reports add that Ullrich backs up those statements with some rather interesting numbers and facts, though many of these are easily attributable to how the Le Mans circuits – which are faster than those in F1 – shape up.
“Let me show you how. At Le Mans, one of our cars will cover 520 km more than an F1 car will cover in an entire season, our average speed – including pits stops – will be 32 kph higher than an F1 car and we will use 42% less fuel. You cannot argue with those figures.”
So, while F1’s technology is impressive, it’s not that effective at bringing the tech to the masses, that’s the thought of at least one manufacturer, it seems.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments mostly agree that F1's relevance to road car technology has diminished over the years, with many pointing out that innovations now come more from Le Mans racing and other motorsports. Several commenters highlight that F1 is primarily about glamour, media, and branding, with little direct benefit to everyday vehicles. Some argue that technologies like paddle shifters, carbon fibre, and hybrid systems have origins in Le Mans or other racing series, not F1. Others criticize F1 for being too focused on entertainment, regulations, and driver glamor, rather than practical tech transfer. A few defend F1's excitement and technological achievements, but the general sentiment favors Le Mans as more pertinent for road car innovation, aligning with Audi's stance that F1 is less applicable to everyday automotive development.