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SPORTS Tuesday 16 OcTOber 2018

AP Interview: Rosberg expects F1 merger with electric series

By ROB HARRIS marketing across both se- sense for Formula One to
AP Sports Writer ries points to a future where be combustion engines,
Highlighting fresh concerns they join forces. so that moment will come.
about global warming, “Maybe we will never even The advantage is that For-
Nico Rosberg foresees an get to that point (where mula One and Formula E
eventual merger between Formula E is bigger than have the same owner.”
the fuel-guzzling Formula F1) and we will just see a Although the cars are qui-
One championship and merger between Formula eter compared to the ear-
the more environmentally One and Formula E be- splitting, fuel-guzzling en-
friendly, electric motorsport fore that,” Rosberg said in gines in F1, the new Gen
series. a telephone interview with 2 models which run faster
The German driver retired The Associated Press on and longer have been in-
from F1 after winning his Monday. “When the mo- troduced. Nissan and BMW
only title in 2016, and he ment comes that Formula will be debuting on the
has since invested in the One needs to go electric, grid when the fifth Formula
four-year-old Formula E which will happen, maybe In this Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 file photo, former Formula One E championship begins in
championship, which he you will just see a merger world champion Nico Rosberg gestures as he visits the paddock Saudi Arabia in Decem-
said is now worth 750 million then.” They already share at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ber. There has also been a
euros ($870 million). ownership through Ameri- Associated Press high-profile signing for the
While F1 remains more at- can entertainment and It might become inevitable, find a way to reduce future series: Former F1 driver Fe-
tractive to sponsors and broadcasting magnate with a fast-warming planet warming caused by hu- lipe Massa racing for Ven-
fans, the upstart series is John Malone’s companies. to be protected, and sports mans by less than a single turi, the Monaco-based
showing increasing com- Liberty Global was already conscious of its role. The degree Fahrenheit. team co-owned by actor
mercial appeal. Heineken, the biggest shareholder in Intergovernmental Panel “It’s a real problem out Leonardo Di Caprio. Stoffel
which already sponsors F1, Formula E when Liberty Me- on Climate Change issued there in the world and we Vandoorne announced on
was announced on Mon- dia bought F1 in 2017. a gloomy report last week need to do what we can Monday he is also making
day as the official beer and “The step for Formula One which said the difference as fast as possible to help the switch from F1, joining
cider backer of the electric to go electric will be a big between life and death all together,” Rosberg said. the Mercedes-linked HWA
street racing championship and difficult one,” Rosberg for multitudes of people “If the whole world is selling Racelab Formula E team
under a five-year deal. said. “If that ever hap- around the world could and driving electric cars,” after leaving McLaren at
That unified approach to pens.” be whether world leaders he added, “it doesn’t make the end of this season.q