Challenging the 'purist' view of F1 and racing

A day before he wrapped up his fourth drivers world championship by winning the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel clinched his 43rd F1 career pole position. In the post-session press conference that followed, Vettel replied to a question about the soon to be launched all-electric Formula E Championship.

"I don't like it," said Vettel. "I think F1 and racing should be loud and noisy. It's what I remember from when I first saw an F1 race in 1992.

"Call me old-fashioned but that's how I feel about it."

His comments were lauded on social media (and plenty in the real world too) for their 'refreshing honesty'. Not to mention it probably pleased a lot of the F1 fans who see themselves as 'purists' when it comes to how they think racing should be.

However, there was one pretty major figure in the paddock of the Buddh International Circuit who begged to differ with such a viewpoint even if he did understand why people think like that.

After all, McLaren will be supplying power units, transmissions and electronics for the Formula E championship.

"I've been actively involved with F1 races for 25 years," said Whitmarsh. "I'm very passionate about the sound of F1 engines and they are fantastic. You don't hear them anywhere else in the world and it's true that they're unique and distinctive.

"But then if you pull yourself back from being an F1 enthusiast, you don't hear them anywhere else because they're not relevant to the needs of society or the automotive industry anymore."

Whitmarsh warned about F1 enthusiasts living in a bubble when it came to the sport's place in the world.

"We live in a broader environment," said Whitmarsh. "And we have to recognize that if we don't have some tangible link to the needs of society or of the automotive sector then there's a danger that they will turn their back on us.

"Look back over the 60 odd year history of F1, put tobacco aside, the largest industrial sector that has invested in this sport is the automotive sector. So if we don't invest in relevant technologies we are in danger of losing their support.

"If F1 is perceived as a gas-guzzling, cash-guzzling sport, then that becomes obscene."

Whitmarsh even made a reference to the smog around the circuit that led to the third free practice session prior to qualifying being delayed by 20 minutes.

"You've only got to look out of the window today to realize that we've got to do something about it," said Whitmarsh. "If we had every single day producing a quarter of the emissions that they normally do, then we would have ourselves a nice sunny day wouldn't we?"