Formula One Goes Green

Someone’s taking the proverbial here. This is Greenwash to the extreme. Many people think Formula One is one of the most extravagant and polluting sports there is. Some people would not even call it a sport.

Despite its cars doing little more than four miles to the gallon, the Honda Formula One team tried to trump their green credentials yesterday when they announced that their new cars will feature a huge image of the Earth “uncorrupted” by commercial logos.

The Japanese manufacturer described the new look, which will feature on cars driven by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, as a “call to action” directed at race fans and the public to join Honda’s “commitment to help address environmental issues facing mankind”.

Nick Fry, the team principal, said: “We’re quite aware it’s a potentially contradictory thing to do. But the number of people we can reach is immense.”

Maybe if Formula One is serious about reducing its carbon emissions, it should try racing bicycles instead.