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Panis no fan of 'green' F1

PARIS, France - F1 veteran Olivier Panis has admitted he is no fan of the 'new' F1.

Panis, now 47, raced through the heart of the 'old' F1 era, when mammoth budgets and screaming V10s echoed around the circuits of the world.

Panis said he was frustrated by the 2014 F1 GP in Melbourne and "shocked" when he heard the comparatively meek sound of the turbo V6. Panis said: "I think the sound is part of F1 because it allows you to feel the power of these machines. Now it's not there."

'F1 NOT WHAT IT WAS'

He also disliked the idea that, instead of being flat-out, cars and drivers were now nursing a limited amount of fuel to the chequered flag.

"F1 has ceased to be what it was. The races were sprints, not marathons. F1 has evolved into endurance racing."

He believed even the arguments about F1 having a "green" future were not convincing. "They say electric cars are the transport of the future but I am not sure about that. Electric cars create new problems, such as the disposal of batteries.

"I do not believe that electricity is the 'new fuel' for motor vehicles. F1 has never been "green".

"Formula 1 is performance, that's what the fans love."
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