Talking To... Alain Prost

The future of Formulas 1 and E, as seen by the team manager for Renault in FE, adviser to Renault F1 and four-time F1 champion

How do you divide your time between the needs of Formula 1 and Formula E?

Formula E is more work than you’d think, because the series is growing and we’re already planning for the changes this year. F1 too this year is going to be busy for me – I think I will eventually have to choose either one or the other.

Could Formula E become the more important sport?

We need to keep the concept and the magic of Formula E, such as the city circuits, while welcoming more constructors and keeping budgets stable – and always put the money into the development of the technology. If we do that, the sport will always grow. F1 is different. As Renault, it’s good to have a connection with the product for marketing. I don’t think we can predict what’s going to happen in the next ten years, but look at what we’re doing at the [Shanghai] show [with the RS 2027 Vision F1-car concept]. We’ll always keep atmospheric engines, but maybe we can make the hybrid technology simpler and less costly in the future.

Have 2017’s changes moved Formula 1 in the right direction?