Ameer Randolph
F1 cars can carry a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race, but teams rarely fill the car with that much fuel. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the slower it will be. Since 2014, F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters, monitored by the FIA, to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at more than the rate of 100kg per hour. Fuel-saving techniques such as lift-and-coast are often employed to reduce fuel consumption during races. In-race refuelling was banned in 2010, and cars are now fuelled to complete the race distance.
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What You'll Learn
F1 cars can carry up to 110kg of fuel
The amount of fuel an F1 car can use per race was increased to 110 kilograms in 2019, up from 105 kilograms. This change was made to allow drivers to push more, as the current generation of cars' aerodynamics increase downforce, resulting in extra drag that increases fuel consumption.
Since 2014, F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate faster than 100kg per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. In 2020, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced amid controversy surrounding the Ferrari engine.
In-race refuelling was banned in 2010, so cars are fuelled to complete the race distance. Refuelling is still permitted during free practice and qualifying but must take place in competitors' garages. F1 regulations have pushed towards fuel efficiency in recent years, with teams now using E10 fuel, which is 10% renewable ethanol. The aim is to make Formula One net zero carbon by 2030, with Aramco developing a 100% sustainable fuel to be used from 2026.
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Teams under-fuel cars for faster lap times
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). However, teams do not always fill the car up to the maximum allowed capacity. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more it costs in lap time. For instance, at a track like Spa with about 50 laps and a maximum of 110kg of fuel, 2kg of fuel is used per lap. 2kg of fuel equates to about 0.06 seconds a lap, so over 50 laps, this amounts to about 3 seconds over the course of the race.
Teams will therefore strategically under-fuel their cars to save weight and gain faster lap times. For example, in 2019, Kubica said he had to save fuel because his team under-fueled, thinking they would have one less lap to make. This is a common strategy for slower teams, as they burn more fuel than faster teams since their time under full throttle is higher.
Additionally, teams will account for safety car probabilities when calculating fuel loads, as fuel is saved when driving slowly behind a safety car. However, some drivers prefer to have a default fuel load, as they find that the car handles better, and they are able to achieve more consistent and faster lap times.
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In-race refuelling was banned in 2010
F1 cars can hold a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). However, this limit was only set in 2019, with the amount of fuel allowed previously being 5 kilograms less. The reason for the increase was to allow drivers to push more, as the aerodynamics on the current generation of cars increase downforce, and the resulting extra drag has upped fuel consumption.
In-race refueling was banned in 2010, with F1's governing body, the FIA, citing safety concerns for drivers. Prior to this, in 2009, Heikki Kovalainen dragged his fuel hose down the pit lane, dousing Kimi Raikkonen in fuel, which then engulfed the driver in flames. This was not the first incident of its kind, with Felipe Massa also driving away with his fuel hose still attached.
The ban on in-race refueling was not the first time it had been implemented, with the FISA (now the FIA) banning the practice in 1984, again on safety grounds. However, it was reintroduced in 1994 after Williams dominated the previous years. During the first race with the new regulations, Michael Schumacher was able to gain an advantage over Ayrton Senna, running the car lighter and faster, despite being unable to overtake the driver on track previously.
Since the ban was implemented, F1 cars have been fuelled before the race to ensure they can finish. This has impacted race strategy, as teams may decide to only fuel the cars enough to set a faster time than their competitors, with a lighter car. This can cause issues, as if the car gets its lap time deleted, or the driver is impeded, they may not have enough fuel to participate in another lap.
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Fuel is measured in kg due to temperature fluctuations
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race. However, teams don't always fill the car with that much fuel as the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it costs.
The volume of the fuel changes with temperature. A litre of fuel at 10°C and a litre at 30°C will differ in mass by around 4%. As mass is an invariant quantity, it is used to calculate fuel usage. The mass of a litre of fuel changes with temperature. If you heat up a litre of fuel, the mass of the fuel won't change, but you will have more than a litre.
The weight of a car is directly related to its performance. The chemical energy in the fuel is directly proportional to the weight. It is also easier to keep lubricants, fuel, coolant, and other fluids measured in the same weight measures rather than volumes with conversions.
The FIA requires a 1-litre sample of fuel after qualifying. This is a standard measurement that can be implemented across all teams. While it is easy to fill a car by weight, it is also much easier to fill a container to the "1-litre" line than to weigh small amounts of liquid.
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F1 fuel flow restriction is 100kg/hour
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race. However, they don't always fill the car with that much fuel because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it costs. The maximum fuel capacity regulation is expected to change in 2026 when F1 moves to using 100% sustainable and synthetic fuels.
Since 2014, F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters installed to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate greater than 100kg per hour. The FIA monitors these meters, and the sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. The fuel flow limit was introduced to encourage efficiency gains via innovation. Fabrice Lom, the FIA's head of powertrain, explained that without the fuel flow limit, the fastest thing to do would be to "use a huge boost at the beginning of the straight and then lift off". This would create "very dangerous differences of speed [between cars] on the same lap, with a driving style that is not really F1".
The fuel flow limit has been a source of controversy since 2017, when Ferrari and Mercedes were caught burning oil to sneak more fuel into the engine. In 2019, Ferrari allegedly found a way to cheat the fuel flow meter to get more power. Some people have argued that the fuel flow limit should be removed and replaced with a power cap on ICE and ERS. However, others argue that the limit is necessary to ensure that F1 remains relevant to road cars, as creating efficient engines that can perform well with limited fuel is also a goal for road car manufacturers.
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Frequently asked questions
F1 cars can carry up to 110kg of fuel, but teams often put less fuel in their cars to reduce weight and improve performance.
Fuel in F1 cars is measured in kilograms because it expands or contracts depending on the temperature.
Fuel bladders are bags that hold the fuel in F1 cars. They replaced rigid fuel tanks in 1970 and are designed to be safer.
F1 drivers use techniques such as "lift-and-coast" to save fuel. This involves lifting off the throttle before the braking zone going into corners.
