Rajan Wilcox
Formula 1 racing is the highest class of international racing for single-seater formula racing cars and is considered the pinnacle of motorsport. F1 cars use E10 fuel, which is 10% renewable ethanol, and the sport is working towards introducing 100% sustainable fuel in 2026. F1 teams are subject to strict regulations regarding fuel, including a maximum fuel usage of 100kg per hour, enforced by fuel-flow meters monitored by the FIA. The fuel efficiency of F1 cars has improved by 15% over the past decade, and teams spend up to $2 million on fuel during a season. While F1 teams can tell their drivers how much fuel is in the car before a race, the drivers themselves must manage their fuel flow and consumption during the race through techniques such as lift and coast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| F1 fuel calculation | Calculated in weight, not litres or gallons |
| Fuel limit in 2018 | 105kg (231 pounds) |
| Fuel limit in 2019 | 110kg (242 pounds) |
| Fuel outside the fuel cell in 2019 | 2 litres |
| Fuel outside the fuel cell in 2020 | 250ml |
| Fuel type in 2022 | E10 fuel (10% renewable ethanol) |
| Fuel type in 2026 | 100% sustainable fuel |
| Fuel temperature | Not stored below 10°C of the ambient temperature |
| Fuel testing | Tested for contaminants and evaporation |
| Fuel flow rate | 100kg per hour |
| Fuel sensor | Checks the flow 2200 times per second |
| Fuel sensor data | Encrypted to prevent circumvention of rules |
| Fuel efficiency | Improved by 15% over the past decade |
| Fuel consumption per race | 145 litres |
| Fuel consumption per season | 350,000 litres |
| Fuel cost per season | $2 million |
| Fuel cost as a percentage of total budget | 7% |
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What You'll Learn
F1 fuel is calculated by weight, with a maximum of 100kg per race
F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters since 2014, monitored by the FIA, to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate of more than 100kg per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. In 2020, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage, with encrypted data ensuring that teams cannot circumvent the measurements.
The limitation on fuel has created a quest to make the energy from it go further and further, prompting breakthroughs that will benefit wider society. In 2019, the amount of fuel an F1 car could use per race was increased to 110 kilograms to allow drivers to push more of the time. The increase in aerodynamics on the current generation of cars increases downforce, and the resulting extra drag has increased fuel consumption across the grid.
F1 teams are allowed to use different types of fuel, and they can even change fuel types mid-season. The fuel used in F1 cars is completely optimized for a particular engine, whereas the fuel used in regular cars is optimized for a wide range of engines.
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F1 cars use E10 fuel, with 10% renewable ethanol
F1 cars use E10 fuel, which is a blend of 90% fuel and 10% renewable ethanol. This was introduced in 2022 as part of new fuel regulations. The ethanol molecule carries a lower quantity of joules per kilogram as a combustible vapour than the equivalent volume of Formula 1 race gasoline. This means that the fuel potency is slightly diluted. However, the evaporation characteristics of ethanol allow it to extract temperature from the combustion chamber during the intake, compression strokes, and initial stages of combustion. This, in turn, allows mapping engineers to lower the ignition advance, resulting in better-timed combustion.
The introduction of E10 fuel is part of F1's push towards sustainability and fuel efficiency. The sport is working with major fuel manufacturers to develop 100% sustainable fuel, which is set to be introduced in 2026 with the new era of F1 hybrid power units. This sustainable fuel will be unique and lab-created, with a neutral carbon circle.
F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters since 2014 to ensure that the engine does not consume fuel at a rate higher than 100kg per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. In 2020, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced by the FIA to better enforce the rules surrounding fuel usage, with encrypted data to prevent teams from circumventing the measurements.
The Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) in F1 cars focus on efficiency by recovering as much waste energy as possible. The MGU-H collects and deploys wasted energy from the turbocharger, while the MGU-K recovers waste kinetic energy from the braking system. This results in breakthroughs that benefit wider society, such as more efficient power units and hybrid systems.
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Fuel-flow meters ensure engines don't exceed 100kg of fuel per hour
Since 2014, F1 teams have been required to install fuel-flow meters to ensure that their engines do not consume fuel at a rate greater than 100kg per hour. The flow meters can accurately measure up to 8 litres of fuel per minute, or 480 litres per hour—substantially higher than the maximum allowed in F1. The fuel-flow meters are installed in the fuel cell area of the car, and all of the fuel leaving the tank passes through the sensor and on to the injectors. This happens at incredibly high speeds on the current direct injection engines.
The fuel flow rate varies constantly depending on factors such as engine speed. At its peak, perhaps when a driver is accelerating out of a slow corner or running at full throttle on the straights, the flow rate cannot exceed 100kg/h. The fuel flow meter measures the rate of flow very quickly—2,200 times per second. The FIA introduced a second fuel-flow sensor for the 2020 season, with encrypted data to ensure that teams could not circumvent the measurements.
F1 regulations have pushed towards fuel efficiency in recent years. Fuel-saving techniques such as lifting off the throttle before the braking zone going into corners (lift and coast), as well as changing settings in the car to decrease fuel consumption, are commonly employed. The Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) elements of an F1 car also ensure that as much waste energy is recovered as possible. This focus on efficiency is an important part of F1's road relevancy.
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F1 teams spend up to $2 million on fuel per season
F1 teams have a budget of $135 million for the 2023 season, which includes the cost of fuel. While there is no exact figure for the amount spent on fuel, teams could be forced to spend $80,000 - $100,000 on fuel each weekend, which would amount to up to $2 million over the course of a season. This is based on the anticipated fuel economy of the cars and the mileage accrued over a race weekend.
F1 is one of the most expensive sports in the world, with leading racing outfits spending big to stay competitive. Historically, the teams with the biggest budgets have been Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. In 2019, for example, Mercedes spent around $484 million, Ferrari spent $463 million, and Red Bull invested $445 million.
To address the financial disparities between teams, F1 implemented budget caps in 2021. The spending cap was initially set at $145 million and has since been lowered to $135 million in 2023. The introduction of budget caps has made the sport more accessible and competitive, allowing smaller teams to remain financially viable and challenging the dominance of the top-spending teams.
F1 cars currently use E10 fuel, which consists of 10% renewable ethanol. The sport is actively working towards sustainability by developing 100% sustainable fuel for the 2026 season, when new F1 hybrid power units will be introduced.
While the specific rules regarding fuel management are complex and evolving, F1 teams are subject to regulations that govern fuel usage and efficiency. For example, F1 cars are mandated a maximum weight of fuel, and fuel-flow meters ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate higher than 100kg per hour.
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F1 fuel is tested for contaminants and evaporation loss
F1 fuel is highly regulated, with strict rules surrounding its composition and usage. Teams are not allowed to install chillers in the car, and fuel must be stored at a temperature no lower than 10°C below the ambient temperature. F1 fuel is typically shipped in 200-litre drums and stored at the circuit in a fuel dump. Before being decanted into a bowser, from which it will be pumped into the car, the fuel is tested for contaminants and evaporation loss. This testing process is repeated once the fuel is in the bowser, to ensure there are no contaminants in the bowser itself.
F1 fuel is also subject to testing after races, to ensure that teams have not used illegal fuels or tampered with the fuel during the race. Samples are sent to a lab to be tested for commercially available pump gas, and to prove that cars were not underfuelled to reduce their weight. Gas chromatographs are used to test for contaminants, and to ensure that the fuel complies with technical regulations.
F1 fuel must be formulated from compounds found in commercial fuels and must not contain exotic power-boosting chemical compounds. The regulations are designed to ensure that the fuel used in F1 is similar to that used in road cars. Teams are permitted to develop fuels independently within specified ranges, and fuel suppliers develop and manufacture fuels to be supplied to teams.
The introduction of hybrid power units in 2014 brought about a push for greater fuel efficiency, with a maximum fuel usage of 100kg stipulated. This has led to a focus on the energy recovery system (ERS), which recovers waste energy from the turbocharger and braking system, and converts it into usable energy for the car. F1 cars currently use E10 fuel, with plans to introduce 100% sustainable fuel by 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2019, F1 cars could use up to 110kg of fuel per race. This was increased from 105kg in 2018.
Team engineers start making calculations on fuel consumption per lap during winter testing. These calculations are then refined race by race, based on modifications made to the car and race conditions.
Drivers can save fuel by lifting off the throttle before the braking zone when approaching corners. They can also change settings in the car to decrease fuel consumption.
The fuel efficiency of an F1 car has improved by 15% over the past decade. On average, a Formula 1 team uses 350,000 liters of fuel during a full season.
F1 cars use E10 fuel, which contains 10% renewable ethanol. The fuel used must be similar to what is used in road cars and cannot contain exotic power-boosting chemical compounds.
