Brown: Ecclestone's F1 electric comments 'off-season banter'

McLaren executive director Zak Brown has brushed off ex-Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone's calls for the sport to make an all-electric switch in the future, calling it "off-season banter".

Ecclestone told reporters last week that Liberty should consider turning into an all-electric series in the future in order to keep manufacturers interested, opting for a "super Formula E" concept.

Brown: Ecclestone's F1 electric comments 'off-season banter'

McLaren executive director Zak Brown has brushed off ex-Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone's calls for the sport to make an all-electric switch in the future, calling it "off-season banter".

Ecclestone told reporters last week that Liberty should consider turning into an all-electric series in the future in order to keep manufacturers interested, opting for a "super Formula E" concept.

"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," Ecclestone 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.

"They [Liberty] would need to have the balls to do it today. I think they will have to do it."

McLaren holds an interest in electric racing via Formula E, with its Applied Technologies division supplying the championship with its new battery from 2019, but Brown was quick to shrug off Ecclestone's comments.

"Electric is very important, we're doing the battery for Formula E in season five, so we're a fan of Formula E. We think electric racing obviously has a big future in motor racing," Brown said.

"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."

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