Villeneuve: 'Nobody in F1 watches Formula E'
Jacques Villeneuve is not excited about the future of Formula E.
The 1997 world champion did a couple of races with the then-burgeoning all-electric single seater category, but thinks the latest hype has been overrated.
"Nobody wants to see electric racing," Villeneuve, now a F1 pundit for Italian television, told Automobile Magazine.
"The truth is, in the F1 paddock, nobody even knows when the Formula E races are on."
Nonetheless, plenty of car manufacturers and former F1 drivers are on the Formula E grid, indicating that it may be a serious competitor to formula one someday.
Villeneuve said: "I don't understand why they are pushing it so much. I think it's a niche thing. The die-hard fans are the only ones who really keep up with it.
"I did a couple of races in Formula E, and I was happy to do them because the technology was interesting. You have power, you step on the gas - well, I probably shouldn't say gas - you step on the pedal, and you go somewhere.
"But ultimately -- I don't know," he added.
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Formula E is a joke at this time. I saw the first race this season the track was a joke to say the least ! Close your eyes and listen reminds me of SLOT CAR racing when I was a teenager in 1966
It was a joke? Did they provide canned laughter?
Formula E - one of the many things we are told we must like. But don't.
Let’s wrap up FE before more money is wasted and taken away from serious Hybrid racing.
It sounds like radio controlled cars, couldn't help but laugh when i saw this.
I've never seen a single FE race, and I'd rather never see it. It is completely ridiculous. The sound of the engine noise is half the joy at F1 race.
OEM's are apparently listening / watching. While F1 can't attract new ones, Mercedes, BMW, Nissan joined Audi, Jaguar, Porsche, NIO just this year.
Give it a while and it will be amazing. Electric cars are the future. I'd like to see FE on something other than street courses.
FE on a proper road course would help, however they’ll always sound like slot cars!
Have tried to watch it and failed to engage. Has no charisma. Dreadful circuits, awful soundtrack, just deadly dull.
So in three years Formula E has doubled its endurance and gained 20% in its top speed. Yeah it doesn't compare right now, but it will and it will have all the manufacturers and sponsors. F1 will have all the old petrol heads fading into history