“Formula One is the pinnacle of motor sports and nothing can replace it,” said Chandhok, who finished fifth in the 25-lap inaugural race in Beijing in September. “Formula E is not competing with F1. The championship was established with the sole purpose of promoting non-combustive engines. It is to promote the electric car industry and to use the series as a framework for research and development,” said Chandhok, who was in the city to visit the Mahindra-Reva manufacturing unit.
Chandhok said F1 is technically superior to Formula E. “It will be wrong to compare Formula E with F1, Indycar or Le Mans. It’s totally different,” Chandhok said. “Formula E cars are slower than F1 cars. Electric cars travel at a maximum speed of 225km/h while F1 cars cruise at 350km/h. A Formula E team can be run with under £3m per year as compared to the £200m costs associated with running an F1 team,” added the Chennai racer, who also takes part in the Le Mans series.
With the E cars being quieter than their Formula 1 counterparts, Chandhok felt races can be held in city centres. “Some cities don’t allow racing in streets to prevent sound pollution. But Formule E cars do not produce any sound, which I believe will help in conducting street races,” said Chandhok, who is gearing up for the second round of the championship in Malaysia on November 22.
Besides Chandhok, the championship also boasts former F1 drivers such as Jarno Trulli, Bruno Senna, Sebastien Buemi and Nick Heidfeld.