14 September 2023 , 06:00
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Jenson Button has called for Formula 1 bosses to U-turn on planned engine changes and bring back combustion engines – but only in "the right way".
Naturally-aspirated V8 engines were used up to 2014, when the sport's 'Hybrid Era' began. The cars have been powered ever since by 1.6-litre turbocharged power units which are supported by energy recovery systems that the drivers can deploy. And electrical power will play an even bigger role from 2026, when new engines come into service. The plan is for them to run on fully sustainable fuels but with a higher proportion of electrical power, meaning less fuel will be used in a Grand Prix.
Button agrees entirely with the sport's aim to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. But most of his own F1 career took place in that era of fully-combustible engines and he feels both the sound made and the quality of the racing was better as a result. Speaking at the Goodwood Revival, Button feels returning to those combustion engines while still moving to 100 per cent sustainable fuels would mean drivers and fans alike get the best of both worlds.
"I love that we're pushing different technologies and I love that we're pushing EV, hydrogen, but for me the most exciting has to be sustainable fuels because I love a combustion engine," he told Sky Sports. "I think every driver would hope [that Formula 1 will return to combustion engines], we just love the sound of the engines and I think it doesn't matter how quick the car is if it sounds good, the fans love it as well.
"But, we have to be doing the right thing as well, and if we can work with sustainable fuel and we think it's the right direction, the great thing is we have three different options for the future in terms of road cars and racing cars. But the sustainable fuel one is the most exciting for people who are in this business already, we love the sound of a revving engine, we love how it feels underneath you in terms of the feeling you get from it, so if we can work that out that's great."
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