F1 World Champion Jon Hilton Beating Ferrari with Flavio Briatore and Electrifying Classics

What happens when a world champion Formula One engineer takes on the energy transition? Jon Hilton, former Renault F1 technical director and winner of the 2005 and 2006 World Championships, went on to co-found Flybrid Automotive, developing KERS technology and selling the company for £16 million. He then applied F1 engineering to electrify Rolls-Royce Phantoms, Aston Martin DB5s, and even recycling trucks with Lunaz. Jon joins host Alex Wolfe to explore how high-performance racing insights can drive commercial clean-tech innovation. This week, Jon tells us what it’s like to have Flavio Briatore as your boss, from redundancy to scaling a breakthrough in flywheel systems, selling a business successfully and founding an electric car company as a result of a flight to Ibiza.This week kicks off Part 2 of our special Summer Trilogy on the British Motor Show! We’re in-person at the show on Friday, 15th August. Click here to learn more about them and to donate: https://adrivingforce.co.uk/Be sure to check out Part 1 (last week's episode) where we review UK car manufactures facing £15K fines for every electric vehicle (EV) they fail to sell. Part 3 wraps up the trilogy with insights, surprises, and key takeaways from the show itself.It’s an auto & energy summer special you won’t want to miss! Jon Hilton started his career with Rolls-Royce military engines group. His passion for engines led him to Formula One where he enjoyed fifteen years in senior posts at Cosworth, TWR Arrows and the Renault F1 Team.In 2007 Jon co-formed Flybrid Automotive Limited to develop high-speed flywheel-based hybrid systems for automobile application. As Managing Director Jon ran the company until January 2014, when it was acquired by Torotrak PLC. In 2019 Jon co-founded the Lunaz group of companies, building electric classic cars and recycled electric trucks, where he worked until retirement in 2024. Jon was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2016/17.  Wolfe Power Club is proud to be partnering with the Spectator Magazine to co-host their Energy Summit 2025 on November 24th. If you want to become a potential partner and have the last word on energy debates in 2025, please contact us. Season Two is in Partnership with The SpectatorTickets for the upcoming The Spectator Energy Summit, on Monday 30th November 2026, are available on sale. Use code: WPC50 for 50% off your purchaseIf you would like to partner with The Spectator Energy Summit, please contact Alex on LinkedIn or [email protected] Our SocialsWebsite: https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WolfePowerClubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfe-power-club/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfepowerclub/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wolfe.power.club Wolfe Power Club Production TeamFounder and Host: Alex WolfeDirector of Government Relations: Max AustinDesigner: Nick PelekanosEditor: Adam WoodwardSocial Media Manager: Bella Carter Recorded at Studio 55 - which has produced podcasts, including Breaking the Taboo with Theo Clarke and The ABTO Podcast