F1: Mercedes has F1 engineers working on EVs

–by Mark Cipolloni–

With the F1 cost cap, teams are loaning out some of their engineers part-time to other parts of their business to reduce costs on the F1 ledger.

They bring them back to the F1 side when needed.

As an example, Mercedes-Benz has plugged its Formula One team into the engineering process to build vastly more efficient mass-market electric vehicles (EVs), slashing development times by a quarter or more as it jump-starts efforts to keep pace with Tesla.

After decades of leadership in combustion-engine technology, legacy carmakers like Mercedes have lagged Tesla in electric vehicles. Mercedes’ F1 team can help it get back in the race, said Steven Merkt, head of transportation solutions at TE Connectivity, a major autos supplier.”

F1 engines use advanced hybrid technology with batteries and electric motors that can benefit passenger cars.

“Nobody feels the pressure more than Mercedes to be innovation leaders here,” Merkt said. “They’ve got to push it out or they’re no longer Mercedes.”

“We have an edge here with Formula One that others don’t have,” Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Markus Schaefer said. “Tesla doesn’t have it. Other teams don’t have it.”