Formula E challenges 'essence of motor sport'

If F1 and IndyCar someday run with pure electric power, it will be the end of motorsports as we know it. It began with the internal combustion engine but once the smell and sound is gone, will it survive the electric motor era?

(GMM) Electric cars threaten the "basic essence of motor sport".

That is the view of five time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who nonetheless says he enjoys watching Formula E.

"The cars are getting cooler every year," he told Sport Bild.

"I watch the races and find it fascinating to see the future of car racing."

So while he thinks Formula E is "fun", it's still hard to compare with the things that inspired him as a kid.

"This new generation don't know the smells of the past, or the crazy sound of the ten cylinder engines for example.

"I was at Spa in 1996 and I remember hearing Michael Schumacher's car and it was so cool. It's why I became a formula one driver," Hamilton said.

"People always need those emotions, touches, smells, sounds, which of course are not the same anymore. I'm sure that if we go in this direction, the basic essence of motor sport is lost."

However, he does not rule out racing in Formula E someday.

"So far formula one has always been everything to me," said the Mercedes driver.

"When I quit, I'll have massive withdrawal symptoms like any F1 driver, so there are other series that I could go to.

"Fernando Alonso is at Indy, Gary Paffett is a bit older than me and is now in Formula E. That will be the future," he said.

"So who knows. At the moment I will try to stay in formula one. As long as I'm focused and fit, I want to be there."