F1 considers ethanol switch

F1 may be shopping around for a possible switch to ethanol, according to former double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

The winner of 14 Grands Prix is quoted as saying that Bernie Ecclestone, F1's chief executive, last year contacted an ethanol group in Brazil.

Ethanol fuel, widely used in cars in Brazil, is an increasingly common alternative to regular petrol, and is made from common crops such as sugar cane and maize.

It is already used in American open wheeler series, and Fittipaldi told azcentral.com, "I'm sure a lot of other categories in the world are going to follow Indianapolis".

"Bernie last year contacted the number one group for ethanol in Brazil," he revealed.

Fittipaldi is reported to be building an ethanol refinery for his sugar cane crop.