Formula E, thankfully, has always been full of people who say it like it is. No-nonsense straight talk is a great feature of the paddock and long may it continue.
But it may just have been introduced to the ultimate rent-a-quote. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest.
Named in deference to his early year’s minimal physical presence, Forrest has more than grown up – in business, personality and influence. He is worth approximately $18bn and has been a force of nature in global business for almost three decades. This is a business titan straight from central casting.
Now he’s brought Fortescue Zero in to Formula E, and some things may never be the same again. Especially when a microphone is wafted under his nose.
“The other race which we’re going to win is this dream I have,” said Forrest, during an interview in a media mixed zone at the Fortescue Zero launch
“Is, I want to see that old dinosaur: noisy, smoky, smelly. Oh, sounds like the fossil fuel sector. No, it’s Formula 1!”
But that was small fry compared to what Forrest uttered a week before at Fortescue Zero’s AGM in Perth, home of its global headquarters.
While addressing shareholders, Forrest described U.S President, Donald Trump, as a ‘fruitcake.’
“There will be a cost of doing nothing – the cost of being dependent upon some other fruitcake’s action on the other side of the world,” said Forrest, describing Trump’s international policy, which included military action against Iran earlier this year, and a controversial energy deal with Russia recently.
So, Forrest isn’t cowed by anything, let alone combustible presidents, who just happen to be the most powerful person in the world. That’s good, because Formula E needs more of this ilk. More stirrers to brew up disruption and extoll answers to questions on the perhaps the greatest task humankind has had. How to manage the climate crisis.
Forrest wants to do that by decarbonising his business, perhaps one of the toughest there is to achieve – mining. But he’s facing the challenge head on. That he is doing so with more than a few southpaw jabs to all and sundry is welcoming. It’s what Alejandro Agag did for the first five years of Formula E, and although the blows didn’t always land, he got respect for doing it.
Think now about what Fortescue Zero means to Formula E. It’s in a unique position. That is because it is not a manufacturer (like Porsche, Nissan, Stellantis, Jaguar), an energy big hitter (like Envision) or a pure motorsport specialist (like Andretti, Lola or Fusion).
It is a giant global company that is using Formula E to shine a light on its business and what it is doing to decarbonise. That is huge for Formula E, and why its CEO, Jeff Dodds and particularly Fortescue Zero’s Gary Ekerold have worked to make its entry in to Formula E happen.
It’s been a brash start, accelerated by Forrest’s typically forthright comments. Stereotypically, yes you could point to his inherent ‘Aussie-ness’ but it’s actually much more than that. Forrest sets an example for his staff and his ambition. Work hard, work fair, be yourself…..and don’t be afraid to have an opinion.
Dan Ticktum, scrabbling around in the depths of his own motorsport mine for a drive three months ago, must really now feel like he’s found home.
