Brown brushes off Bernie’s ‘electric’ comments

McLaren may soon supply Formula E’s battery but that doesn’t mean they are open to Formula 1 becoming an electric car series.

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone recently stated that if Formula 1 wants a long-term future, it needs to become a “super Formula E” series.

“Let’s make different types of cars, let’s speak to the manufacturers and start a new all-electric F1, a Formula 1 for the future,” he said.

“You can make cars be like an F1 car and the only thing you would miss would be the noise and I do not believe that people could not come up with something to make more or less the old F1 noise.”

His idea, through, has been bearly raised an eyebrow with Brown who has put it down to “off-season banter” from the 87-year-old.

“Electric is very important, we’re doing the battery for Formula E in season five, so we’re a fan of Formula E,” the McLaren chief told Crash.net.

“We think electric racing obviously has a big future in motor racing.

“Bernie’s comments, as you guys all know from spending time with him, he enjoys a little bit of off-season banter.

“So I think I’d put it down to that.”