News Summary
- Damon Hill challenged Andrew Forrest’s claim that Formula 1 should become a museum as younger audiences embrace Formula E.
- Forrest, owner of the new Fortescue Zero Racing team, has called for a direct comparison between Formula E’s Gen4 car and an F1 machine.
- Formula E’s next-generation car promises substantially faster acceleration, but that does not establish superiority over a full race distance.
Damon Hill has challenged Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest’s suggestion that Formula 1 belongs in a museum, arguing that Formula E must first prove it can outperform an F1 car across an entire Grand Prix distance. The 1996 world champion responded to remarks made by Forrest during the launch of his new electric racing team, Fortescue Zero Racing.
“When Formula E can beat an F1 car over a full Grand Prix distance, yes,” Hill commented in response to the claim.
The brief remark draws a distinction between Formula E’s growing technological capabilities and the sustained performance required to compete with Formula 1 over an entire race.
Forrest says Formula 1 belongs in a museum
Forrest made his comments during the launch of Fortescue Zero Racing in London on November 6. The Australian businessman, founder of the Fortescue group, believes Formula E represents the future of high-performance motorsport.
“I think Formula One has a place,” Forrest told reporters, before suggesting that place should be a museum.
He argued that younger audiences would increasingly gravitate towards electric racing because of its performance, technology and environmental credentials.
Forrest also challenged Formula 1 to a head-to-head comparison with the new Gen4 Formula E machinery.
His comments attracted attention because Fortescue Zero Racing is preparing to become the first Australian-owned team in the championship, having acquired the former Penske operation.
The team will use Jaguar powertrains and field Dan Ticktum and Taylor Barnard, with Jim Wright serving as team principal.
Hill questions Formula E’s performance over a full race
Hill’s response focuses on an important distinction: acceleration is not the same as overall racing performance.
Formula E’s Gen4 car is expected to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 1.8 seconds and reach speeds exceeding 335 km/h. The new generation will also introduce permanent all-wheel drive and significantly increased power.
However, Formula 1 cars retain advantages in areas such as aerodynamic downforce, sustained cornering performance and the ability to maintain competitive lap times over long distances.
Formula E races also involve energy management strategies that differ substantially from those used in Formula 1.
A direct comparison would therefore depend on the circuit, regulations, tyres and race distance selected.
Hill’s argument is that Formula E must demonstrate superiority across a complete Grand Prix, rather than relying on acceleration figures or projections of future performance.
That does not dismiss Formula E’s technological progress. Instead, it challenges Forrest’s suggestion that the electric championship is ready to replace Formula 1 as motorsport’s leading performance category.
Gen4 promises major advances for Formula E
The Gen4 regulations represent one of the biggest technical changes in Formula E’s history.
According to the championship, the new car will produce up to 600 kW, equivalent to approximately 815 horsepower, and introduce more advanced aerodynamic configurations.
Formula E expects the new machinery to deliver lap times at least five seconds faster than the previous generation on certain street circuits.
Fortescue Zero Racing will enter the championship with a Jaguar-powered car, extending its existing involvement in electric racing technology.
The company has previously worked with Formula E as a supplier of fast-charging technology and has connections to Formula 1 through its acquisition of Williams Advanced Engineering.
The official Formula E presentation of Fortescue Zero Racing detailed the team’s ambitions and the technical direction of its Gen4 project.
Forrest believes those advances will help Formula E challenge the perception that Formula 1 represents the highest level of racing performance.
Hill, however, has set a more demanding benchmark: beating an F1 car over an entire Grand Prix.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following the preparations for the 2027 Formula E season and developments across Formula 1.
