Pit Stop | Electrifying Formula E series may shock Formula One into action
Entrepreneur Richard Branson predicts the new series will overtake its established but struggling rival - and he knows how to spot a good thing
Spotted at a London airport a few days ago while waiting at the baggage carousel: "Renault, over 115 years of winning innovation. And now proud to lead the electric revolution".
It was an advert for not only the car manufacturer, but also the finale of the Formula E series. The electric series wrapped up its season by the banks of the River Thames, with a suitably exciting climax to the championship.
Now, a week later, British fans have the chance to see Formula One at close quarters as the championship alights on Silverstone. The British Grand Prix is always well supported, and expect to see packed stands.
In four or five years, you will find Formula E overtaking Formula One and as time goes on, the clean energy drives are going to power ahead
However, it will be a marked contrast to what happened in Austria a fortnight ago. Half-empty grandstands and by all accounts a quiet paddock with lots of space in VIP areas. All this at the circuit that Dietrich built - that's Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner of the Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams.
All a little bit awkward for F1 really, given the torrent of negative stories that have already surrounded the sport.
It's interesting to see the different arcs of the two racing series. F1, it could be argued, is facing a crisis that threatens it's relevance, if not existence.
Formula E, by contrast, started life the subject of considerable ridicule, and finished in London with a great deal of interest and quite a few blue-chip sponsors.
