Changing of the guard?
Adapt or be left behind is the clear message given to Formula One when Mercedes announced they had signed an option to race in season 5 of Formula E. Since that bombshell, the Silver Arrows has been reticent about their intentions, declaring that - at this stage at least - they are merely 'interested observers', but their intention is nothing but seismic for Formula One's younger cousin in battle to stay relevant in a fast-changing world.
Even Sauber seriously considered taking up an entry slot for the inaugural Formula E season and is still considering its options according to team boss, Monisha Kaltenborn.
"It's something we looked at right at the beginning and right to the end they kept a seat for us, but we had other issues to sort out and you don't want a new one coming up. We were on to it for a long time, since the time when they started talking about it.”
With Sauber and Force India’s request to the EU (to investigate the governance of the current F1 payment structure) reported to have moved to a seconds stage, Kaltenborn’s comments are ringing louder than ever should F1’s new owners (Liberty Group) care to listen.
And considering middling-team associations such as Dragon Racing linking with Chinese-backed American Tech company, Faraday Future (see Matt Kew’s feature in this edition), a potential Sauber move is looking even more likely.
Trent Price, eRacing editor @realtrentprice