In 2026, the revolution around power units will be accompanied by another revolution, that of fuels. Indeed, on this date, all F1 will have to use 100% fuels of sustainable origin, to continue the green shift of the sport.
F1 and the FIA are therefore putting in place, little by little, the tools necessary to face this great revolution to come.
From next season, F2 and F3 will use 100% sustainable fuel. FIA safety and medical cars also currently use 40% advanced sustainable fuel.
But for this regulation to bear all its (green) fruits, the fuel that the F1 teams will use must be of truly… sustainable origin. More precisely, fuels derived from “Advanced Durable Components”according to FIA terminology.
To obtain this “label”, a fuel must come from non-food biomass, renewable raw materials of non-biological origin or municipal waste, while respecting strict greenhouse gas emissions thresholds.
In its role as technical policeman, the FIA today announced a new certification whose goal will be simple: to guarantee that a sustainable fuel really is!
“These regulations are designed to be compatible with the requirements of the world's existing fleet of more than 1 billion internal combustion engines, demonstrating their potential for widespread adoption beyond motorsport, including for drivers. of everyday life » specifies the FIA.
-To launch this label, the FIA collaborated with Zemo Partnership, an independent insurance services provider. The result is a new “Sustainable Racing Fuel Insurance Program” (SRFAS). “This program is based on a robust third-party verification process to ensure that all racing fuels used in Formula 1 meet FIA criteria for blended fuel composition and durability of advanced sustainable components (ASCs)” specifies the Federation.
The SRFAS is based on a rigorous verification process focused on three key aspects, specifies the FIA:
- Traceability: Tracking the origin and movement of each sustainable fuel throughout the supply chain to ensure they comply with the FIA's strict criteria for raw material sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions disclosure. tight.
- Fuel composition: Analysis of racing fuel to verify the exact composition and traceability of sustainable fuels.
- Emissions performance: Measuring and verifying the greenhouse gas emissions performance of the final blended racing fuel, to ensure it meets FIA sustainability targets.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, welcomed this progress which for once at Place de la Concorde, will achieve consensus.
“Innovation and progress go hand in hand, and the FIA is at the forefront as we move towards a sustainable future. Alternative fuels are the next step, and today we are realizing an important part of our sustainability vision through the availability of FIA-certified sustainable fuels, backed by an extremely rigorous procedure that we can all trust. These innovations on the trail continue to drive changes on the roads that impact each of us in our daily lives. »
