Carey defends F1, calls FE 'more of a street party'
Formula 1 CEO and chairman Chase Carey has hit back at comments by Formula E boss Alejandro Agag that the all-electric series will be the only viable form of motorsport in 20 years' time, likening the championship to "more of a street party".
Formula E has enjoyed rapid growth since hitting the track for the first time in 2014, boasting more manufacturer interest than F1 through the likes of Renault, Audi, Jaguar, BMW, and, as of 2019, Porsche and Mercedes.
Formula 1 CEO and chairman Chase Carey has hit back at comments by Formula E boss Alejandro Agag that the all-electric series will be the only viable form of motorsport in 20 years' time, likening the championship to "more of a street party".
Formula E has enjoyed rapid growth since hitting the track for the first time in 2014, boasting more manufacturer interest than F1 through the likes of Renault, Audi, Jaguar, BMW, and, as of 2019, Porsche and Mercedes.
Agag told ESPN last month that he expected Formula E to "be the only motorsport out there" in 20 years' time given the global shift towards electric cars, but Carey brushed off his comments.
"I'm glad he has a crystal ball that can look 20 to 30 years into the future," Carey told Sport Bild.
"Formula E is not a competitor for us. It represents one thing that matters to all of us: the environment.
"It's more of a street party than a sports event. People who were there told me they had fun because there was music and good food.
"Formula 1 is watched worldwide, and we now have the opportunity to take it to a new level. I believe that other series even help us, because they create interest.
"The premier class is and remains Formula 1."
