Given the rapid rise of electrified powertrains and autonomous technologies, it’s virtually impossible to predict how Formula 1 will change in the next three decades. However, McLaren Applied Technologies has had a go imagining what the future of the sport could look like.
The vehicle dreamt up by the British company is the MCLExtreme and it’s been created with the year 2050 in mind, a year which will also mark the 100th anniversary of Formula 1.
While the car retains an open-wheeled design and still includes a human driver, it is drastically different than the machine’s we’re familiar with.
Off the bat, you’ll immediately notice an all-new exterior design. The body includes a front wing that’s suspended from the nose, which stretches up seamlessly to an enclosed cockpit. Rather than a large rear wing out back, the MCLExtreme has two individual wings that curve over the rear wheels.
The bodywork also makes use of expected developments in the world of active aerodynamics. As such, a selection of body parts could easily detract when the vehicles are speeding along straights while deploying during cornering. The vehicle can also glow a certain color to represent the emotions of the driver.
Given that the year is 2050, the futuristic F1 racer features an all-electric powertrain. While electric propulsion systems in the year 2019 are limited by range, McLaren expects no such issues in 2050 and believes race cars like the MCLExtreme could be recharged with inductive charging, allowing them to complete the distance of a full race. The powertrain could also help the vehicle achieve speeds exceeding 300 mph (482 km/h).
Formula 1 of the future could also make use of artificial intelligence through advanced race suits and helmets used by drivers and those on the pit wall.
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