Born in Naples, Italy in 1973, Rodi Basso’s career has been closely linked to motors. Graduated as an aerospace engineer in his native land, his beginnings were as a consultant at NASA working with new electrical technologies for satellite data intelligence.
Despite taking a great first step in his career, he joined Ferrari in Formula 1 in their last great golden age as part of the team that won championships between 2000 and 2005, which led to five constructor titles with the Italian firm. Basso continued in the series but with Red Bull and the results were immediate for the Austrians as they would get their first podium at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006.
The Italian became director of sales and marketing for Magneti Marello Motorsport and CTO Group. He later obtained the position of director of business unit of McLaren applied to motorsports. In both positions, Basso focuses on the application of sustainability, including hybrid and electric powertrains.
“I enjoy activating innovation processes, designing a breakthrough value proposition, realizing future ideas and getting goals done with a performance-driven philosophy learnt in my Formula 1 days and in my Coaching Studies.”
Rodi Basso
E1: something never seen before, not even in electric motor sports
Currently, Basso is in a project that, as he says, is a revolutionary proposal: E1, a series that will bring electricity to water mobility. The intention of the competition is to show that oceans, rivers and lakes can be cared from environmental pollution and even from marine electrification.
“We will deliver a new force in sports entertainment, disruptive and fully electric”
Rodi Basso, E1’s CEO and Co-Founder
The former Ferrari and Red Bull member has been clear on several occasions, mentioning that the new series wants to show the world that a green race does not mean less entertainment.
“We want to be 100 per cent entertainment. We have many strong messages but before that we need to have a strong marketing platform, an entertainment platform, so that you can attract fans and followers and then introduce those kind of topics. That, for us, is the key point.”
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“I’m an engineer and I’m massively passionate about technology within sport. I have studied and looked around and seen there are many lessons learnt that could speed up the journey of sustainable mobility on the waters.”
Written by | Gabriel Sayago
