2024, a year of technology: moving toward technological neutrality. 2024 was a golden year for Formula 1 and motorsport, while also promising profound changes for the future.

2024 was a golden year for Formula 1 and motorsport, while also promising profound changes for the future. Electrification has reached new milestones, though the process has also experienced setbacks. On the track and in the market, there is general uncertainty about the best path forward, divided between electric power, hydrogen, and alternative fuels. A future of technological neutrality is taking shape, also designed to retain the many manufacturers active in racing.

Advancements in Electrification

In Formula 1, much attention is on 2026 and the growing role of electrification, a technology advancing in other disciplines. The year opened with Audi’s historic Dakar victory—the first with a prototype powered by an internal combustion engine but with electric traction. While the use of a BoP mechanism mitigates the impact, the triumph of a hybrid vehicle in the desert’s heat and on rough terrain underscores a remarkable achievement for electrified powertrains.

2024 also marked Formula E’s debut of Gen3 EVO cars, the first to use electric power for all-wheel drive. These new cars have broken cultural and technological barriers, showcasing acceleration exceeding that of Formula 1 with a 0-100 km/h sprint in 1.82 seconds. Weight and range remain limitations, but after a decade, Formula E has proven that electric racing can be exciting and surprising. The next Gen4 cars, expected to deliver over 800 horsepower to all four wheels, will raise the bar even higher.

Electrification also advanced across the Atlantic. IndyCar introduced hybrid power, opting for supercapacitors over traditional lithium-ion batteries. Compact and lightweight but with reduced autonomy, they deliver an extra 60 horsepower for a few seconds. NASCAR showcased its first electric concept car with three motors generating nearly 1,400 horsepower, designed for street circuits and smaller ovals, though there are no concrete plans for an electric series yet.

Challenges

Formula 1’s year included the unveiling of the 2026 aerodynamic regulations, driven by power unit design. The goal is to reduce drag and fuel consumption using active aerodynamics and maximum efficiency to prevent the tripled hybrid power from draining the battery mid-straight. Initial drafts were revised to improve lap time simulations, now on par with 2022 benchmarks, highlighting the challenge of maintaining performance alongside electrification. IndyCar faces similar issues, lightening components like the aeroscreen and gearbox casing to offset the hybrid system’s additional weight.

Another challenge is remaining appealing to manufacturers. Market trends have disrupted the once-certain belief that electric power was the sole path for the automotive future. Meanwhile, electrification remains costly, clashing with manufacturers’ need to justify motorsport programs. Some are backtracking, like the WRC, which announced its departure from hybrids next year, following the Rallycross World Championship’s removal of mandatory electric powertrains a year prior. Projects like an electrified DTM variant and the FIA’s electric GT championship also saw no updates, fueling doubts.

The Arrival of Hydrogen

Uncertainty around electric power has spurred investments in other technologies, primarily hydrogen. In 2024, the FIA quietly announced its push for liquid hydrogen storage research, following the establishment of a working group with Formula 1 and Extreme H in late 2023.

The WEC remains closest to embracing this technology, despite delaying a hydrogen class until 2028. Progress continues with the MissionH24 prototype’s third generation, advancing hydrogen racing. Toyota leads interested manufacturers, joined by others like Alpine, which showcased the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow concept at Le Mans, and Ferrari, which keeps its options open for future participation with a successor to its victorious 499P.

Others are already active, such as AVL and Red Bull’s collaboration on high-performance fuel cells. Meanwhile, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, and Toyota jointly created the Hyse-X1, the first hydrogen-powered buggy to compete and finish the Dakar.

Toward Technological Neutrality

2024 previews hydrogen’s arrival, enriching motorsport’s future technological diversity. The goal is technological neutrality, allowing vehicles with different technologies to compete using performance-balancing mechanisms. This is the WRC’s vision, moving beyond hybrids in 2025 and introducing cars running on sustainable fuels by 2027, alongside hybrid and electric prototypes. Rallycross pioneered this model, fielding internal combustion and electric vehicles in 2024.

The WEC has been a trailblazer, with nearly 20 Hypercars of varying electrification levels competing in its top class, aiming for even more diversity by 2028. The hydrogen category will include both fuel-cell electric and internal combustion prototypes, alongside hybrid and gasoline-powered cars.

Formula 1’s long-term plans remain unknown, but its 2026 regulations mark a paradigm shift, limiting not fuel flow by weight but energy flow, encouraging experimentation with fuel composition. These are early steps toward broader technological neutrality.

A Year to Remember

The focus should be on enjoying the present—a golden era for motorsport with ever-growing manufacturer participation. Formula 1 celebrates General Motors’ entry, hoping Haas-Toyota’s new partnership signals Toyota’s full return. The WEC welcomes Alpine, Lamborghini, and BMW, with Aston Martin and Genesis joining later. In Formula E, Nissan, Jaguar, Porsche, and Maserati commit to Gen4, alongside the debuting Lola-Yamaha consortium.

However, the future is uncertain, as shown by Renault’s withdrawal from F1 engine supply and Lamborghini’s exit from the WEC. The economic landscape and Europe’s automotive market crisis urge caution, prompting federations to cut costs and expand motorsport globally.

For now, motorsport offers much to enjoy. May 2025 bring more events and passion to share on these pages!