FIA’s sustainable fuel certification paves new road for motorsport

Motorsport has traditionally been defined by roaring engines, burning rubber, and the unmistakable scent of fuel. While these elements remain at the heart of racing’s appeal, they’ve also long been a source of concern for environmental advocates. Now, the sport is undergoing a transformation—one that aligns high-performance racing with sustainability.

On 3 December 2024, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) unveiled its Sustainable Fuel Certification Programme. This initiative is a bold step towards certifying 100% sustainable fuels in racing, setting a new industry benchmark. Starting with the 2026 Formula One World Championship, all teams must use “drop-in” fuels derived entirely from Advanced Sustainable Components (ASCs).

These ASCs are second-generation feedstocks that avoid competition with food crops and farmland. They include non-food biomass, municipal waste, and renewable feedstocks of non-biological origin. Crucially, they must comply with strict greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions thresholds to qualify.

To ensure credibility and transparency, the FIA has partnered with Zemo Partnership, a UK-based non-profit formerly known as the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. Together, they have established the Sustainable Racing Fuel Assurance Scheme (SRFAS), an independent framework adapted from Zemo’s Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme. The SRFAS traces ASC origins through the supply chain, verifies GHG performance, and confirms fuel composition.

While the environmental impact of race cars on the track is surprisingly minimal—Formula 1 reports it accounts for less than 1% of its total emissions—logistics and travel represent nearly half. Still, the FIA’s commitment to sustainability is clear. As early as 2019, it introduced a Sustainability Strategy targeting net zero carbon emissions by 2030, including a 50% reduction in absolute emissions.

Sustainable fuels are not new to the FIA. They were introduced in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in 2021 and in both the World Rally and World Endurance Championships by 2022. Formula 1 itself has been steadily advancing its green agenda. Since 2023, Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars have been powered by 55% advanced sustainable fuel, developed with Aramco.

Technological innovation has long been Formula 1’s hallmark. From turbo-hybrid engines to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), innovations have routinely filtered from the track to road vehicles. Its current hybrid power units boast 50% thermal efficiency—far outpacing the 30% seen in standard cars.

The upcoming 2026 F1 engine regulations signal further evolution. Half of the engine’s output will come from electric power, and fuel loads will be slashed from 100 kilograms to just 70 kilograms—drastically improving efficiency and performance.

Notably, Formula 1’s rules prohibit co-processing—where renewable and fossil feedstocks are blended during refining. Unlike road fuels, F1 race fuels must be derived entirely from sustainable sources, ensuring maximum environmental integrity.

The FIA’s certification initiative is also a response to a broader reality. By 2030, an estimated 1.4 billion vehicles will still be in use—1.2 billion of them with internal combustion engines. According to Formula 1’s Chief Technical Officer, Pat Symonds, addressing emissions must involve multiple technologies, including sustainable fuels alongside electric vehicles.

The FIA’s broader Environmental Accreditation Programme, launched in 2011, recognises organisations demonstrating exceptional environmental performance. In September 2024, Haltermann Carless received the programme’s highest three-star rating. The company offers 100% renewable fuels and powers its production facilities in Germany and the UK using certified renewable electricity.

Sustainable fuels also present a new kind of competition off the track. Formula 1 works with five key fuel partners—PETRONAS, Shell, ExxonMobil, Gulf, and Castrol (bp)—all racing to develop the next generation of sustainable racing fuel. These partnerships not only drive competitive advantage but also pave the way for mainstream fuel innovation.

FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem captured the wider mission best: “These on-track innovations help drive on-road changes that impact each of us in our daily lives.” As motorsport embraces sustainability, its influence extends beyond circuits—shaping a greener, faster future for all.

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