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 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.
