Motorsport Show: F1 needs easier technical terms for fans

Formula 1 should make its technical terms easier for fans to understand so it does not risk boring them with complicated vocabulary, according to this week's Motorsport Show panel

F1 has not been immune to the electrification of the automotive industry, with energy recovery systems first appearing in 2009 and the current engine regulations creating complicated turbocharged hybrids.

But the references to the MGU-K and MGU-H - motor generator unit 'kinetic' and 'heat' respectively - in the modern engines' energy recovery system have been questioned by Motorsport Show host Peter Windsor and his panellists.

When asked what the difference is between an MGU-K and an MGU-H, British Touring Car Championship series director Alan Gow jokes: "MG UK is one of the manufacturers in the BTCC funnily enough.

"I don't know and one of my pet hates is the engineering vernacular we now [have].

"No wonder audiences sit there with glazed eyes wondering what an MGU-H is."

Ex-McLaren F1 communications chief Matt Bishop replies: "I 100% agree.

"I think that the hegemony of engineers in F1 means that the vernacular has become engineer talk.

"You buy a car, it is called a hybrid. On F1 it has ERS. Nobody knows what that means.

"Why is DRS called DRS? It sounds like a sofa. Call it speed wing, something like that."

Gow says "even car manufacturers never related to KERS", in reference to the original kinetic energy recovery system F1 introduced in 2009.

Bishop replies: "When I was at McLaren, Mercedes was the engine supplier. They said 'can you please start calling it KERS-hybrid' in our press communications.

"Just get proper names for it."