F1 reveals what cars will look like in 2050 as vision for the future mapped out in exhibition
McLaren Racing have shown fans a glimpse into the future with a bold prediction of what F1 cars will look like in 2050, which is now on show at the F1 Exhibition in London.
F1 is a sport unlike any other in the sense that it is constantly evolving due to humanity's immense technological progression.
25 years ago, the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher looked very different to the SF-24 currently driven by Charles Leclerc, but what will these incredible machines look like in 25 years?
Luckily for racing fans, McLaren have already revealed exactly what the sport might look like and it's fair to say if they are even close, we are in for a treat.
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Here is what McLaren's 2050 concept looks like next to Lando Norris' 2024 race-winning McLaren, but what are the differences? (2050 concept originally made in 2022, therefore commercial sponsorship and branding not up to date.)
Chassis overhaul to maximise speed
Despite looking more like a spaceship than a race car, McLaren have insisted that their MCLExtreme doesn't fly, but there are reasons behind its futuristic look.
While the car does have four open wheels, a front and rear wing, and a human in the cockpit, that is where the similarities end.
DRS has become a major factor in F1 with overtakes almost exclusively possible when DRS is active, but while the MCLExtreme doesn't have DRS, it features something even better.
Currently in F1, the rear wing DRS is the only part of the car that has active aerodynamics, but in 2050 McLaren expects that to change with the entire car able to alter its shape to maximise its velocity.
This would mean an F1 car going around a corner would be totally different aerodynamically from the car on the straight, and with an expected top speed of 500kph, they will be rapid.
The use of AI in a Formula 1 car
People are often reluctant when the term AI is brought up, particularly in regards to the future, however, with the increased use even today it's safe to say it will have a part to play in 2050.
According to McLaren, due to the current development rate, it is likely drivers will receive the majority of their information via an AI co-pilot rather than the pitwall by 2050.
Speaking via McLaren Applied, Karl Surmacz, Head of Modelling and Decision Science at McLaren Applied has revealed what to expect from AI in Formula 1.
"In the future we could get to the point where human ingenuity is replaced with an AI algorithm," Surmacz said.
"Machine learning would see human preferences and decisions, as well as our domain expertise and instinct, captured.
"Take enough examples of our creative processes and outcomes, and this could be codified into an algorithm which would enable AI to make creative decisions consistent with those of a human counterpart," he added.
Electric power?
Unfortunately for petrolheads (but fortunately for polar bears) with F1 targetting net zero by 2030, it's fair to presume Grand Prix racing will be fully electric by 2050.
With fully electric cars set to become mandatory on the roads in the future, high-level motorsport is believed to be a perfect testing ground for this new technology.
Plug-in power as we see on electric road cars is expected to be a short-term solution, with the cars of the future charging wirelessly as the MCLExtreme concept absorbs power from the ground through 'inductive resonant coupling.'
New era, new tracks
One of the main criticisms of the sport in the last decade or so is how big the cars are compared to the circuits.
Fans are often left disappointed at races like Monaco where it is virtually impossible for a modern Formula 1 car to make an overtake without an insane amount of risk.
With Formula 1 in 2050 set for a huge increase in top speed (500kph), tracks are set to be longer, wider, and feature much more banking like we see at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Rodi Basso, McLaren's Motorsport Director has spoken on what these futuristic tracks might be like.
"Smart cities will give us the chance to put the track action on people’s doorsteps," Basso claimed.
"Why confine the grand prix cars of tomorrow to the tracks of today?
"The Italian Grand Prix of 2050 would still run through the heart of one of the largest historical parks in Europe, but go on to scythe its way through the streets of Milan city centre, before making its way back to Monza’s leafy park," he concluded.
F1 Exhibition
McLaren's full vision for the future is mapped out at the F1 Exhibition in London, where it will remain open to the public until March 2025.
The exhibition also includes Max Verstappen's 2021 championship-winning Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton’s 2018 record-breaking Mercedes, and Ayrton Senna’s 1988 title-winning McLaren.
There are also countless interactive zones throughout the tour, with visitors getting individual headphones to learn key facts about each exhibit.
The F1 Exhibition originally opened in Madrid, before arriving in Vienna, and Toronto before making the trip to London.
Tom Jenkins