McLaren may currently be struggling with power but they are still looking forward and have some fairly interesting ideas for the potential direction of F1. The MP4-X concept attempts to visualise this potential future with strong aesthetic qualities and significant physical differences to today’s cars – not least the enclosed cockpit and shrouded wheels.

“With the futuristic McLaren MP4-X concept racecar, we wanted to peer into the future and imagine the art of the possible,” said John Allert, Group Brand Director, McLaren Technology Group.

“We have combined a number of F1’s key ingredients – speed, excitement and performance, with the sport’s emerging narratives – such as enclosed cockpits to enhance driver safety, and hybrid power technologies.”

“Formula 1 is the ultimate gladiatorial sport, and the future we envisage will be a high tech, high performance showcase that excites fans like no other sport.”

It certainly doesn’t hurt to peer through the looking glass at a more positive alternative to the current F1 line-up. If Formula One is to remain the pinnacle of motor sport, it should embrace technological advancement at every level and avoid being drawn into constant fiddling with outmoded practices and find a way to better share those technical achievements with fans of the sport.