"F1 teams should devote part of their time and resources to greater causes"

When, in 2020, the Formula 1 world, as well as the entire world around it, was at a standstill due to the coronavirus crisis, many teams quickly made themselves useful. Thanks to good cooperation, teams were able to speed up the supply of medical ventilators. In light of this, Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul now advocates a mandatory role for Formula 1 teams in 'greater goals' outside Formula 1, in order to further raise moral awareness within the sport.

In a press conference on 12 December, Abiteboul will explain his plan as follows:“I wonder in the future if we should not have some form of obligation to allocate a part of our time, a part of our resources, of our facilities to a greater cause, to a different cause, other than Formula 1." Abiteboul argues that this obligation is essential, for the following reason: "Frankly, if we are not forced to do it, I’m afraid that simply it will be extremely marginal or occasional."

Social utility

Abiteboul thus argues that the efficiency, knowledge and strength of Formula 1 teams should be used not only to make cars faster and faster, but also to improve the world we live in and emphasize the socio-political projects within Formula 1, such as the 'We Drive as One' initiative.

 He explains: "It’s great because I guess the problem – the good thing and the bad thing about Formula 1 - is that we’ve got amazing facilities, people, skills, you name it. But we are all focused on what we need to do best which is building a fast car, and anything else that we do would be detrimental to our competitiveness.But on this very particular occasion, when the world stopped, we could do something else and advertise, basically, what we are capable of doing."