Mercedes Mullins
Fuel is an essential component of Formula One racing, with teams employing various strategies to maximise performance. Since refuelling during a race has been prohibited for safety reasons since 2010, teams must carefully calculate the required amount of fuel to complete the race without running out. F1 cars are allowed a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race, but they rarely fill their tanks to capacity, opting for a lighter setup that improves speed and tyre wear. The calculation of fuel quantity involves considering lap times, modifications to the car, and race conditions. Engineers refine their estimates race by race, aiming to have just enough fuel to reach the finish line without incurring penalties for insufficient fuel.
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What You'll Learn
F1 fuel tanks carry up to 110kg of fuel
F1 fuel tanks are different from those in conventional cars. They are flexible and made from high-quality rubber lined with Kevlar, rather than being rigid. This is to ensure that they are indestructible and to prevent leaks in the event of a crash. The fuel tank is balloon-shaped and positioned behind the driver but in front of the engine.
Refuelling during an F1 race has been banned since 2010, so cars must be fully fuelled before the start of a race. This ban was introduced for safety reasons, following incidents such as the 2009 Brazilian GP, where Heikki Kovalainen drove off with the fuel rig still attached, creating a fire that engulfed Kimi Raikkonen. Teams will rarely fill their tanks to the maximum capacity of 110kg, as a full tank makes the car heavier and slower. Instead, they will under-fuel and deal with the consequences later, such as having to do more lifting and coasting throughout the race.
To ensure that their car does not run out of fuel during a race, teams use calculations to estimate how much fuel is needed. These calculations are based on the amount of fuel used per lap during winter testing and are then refined race by race based on modifications to the car and race conditions.
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Teams rarely fill tanks to maximum capacity
F1 teams rarely fill their fuel tanks to maximum capacity. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it loses. Teams will often under-fuel their cars and deal with the consequences later, as a lighter car is faster and has less tyre wear. This strategy does, however, mean that drivers will have to do more lifting and coasting throughout the race. Teams can also bank on a safety car or virtual safety car to save fuel.
The amount of fuel an F1 car can use per race was increased to 110 kilograms in 2019 to allow drivers to push more of the time. The current generation of cars has increased downforce, and the resulting extra drag has increased fuel consumption. Before this change, drivers were struggling to reach the end of the race without using fuel-saving techniques such as lift-and-coast or changing settings in the car to decrease fuel consumption.
The weight of the car is a crucial factor in F1 racing. In the 1970s, the introduction of aerodynamics in car designs led to the use of nose boxes in the front and air boxes behind the driver to increase airflow to the engine. In the 1990s, metallurgical advancements led to the introduction of lighter cars. More recently, F1 has pushed towards sustainability and fuel efficiency. The 2020 Mercedes engine, for example, is over 50% thermally efficient, compared to around 30% for a normal road car.
The fuel tank inside an F1 car is different from those in a conventional car. It is specifically developed to be flexible and indestructible. The tank is balloon-shaped and is squeezed into the car and then filled like a balloon. It is positioned behind the driver but directly ahead of the engine. For aerodynamic purposes, it needs to be as small as possible but must comply with the FIA regulation of being under 800mm wide.
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Fuel is calculated by weight, not volume
F1 cars are fuelled at the beginning of a race and are not allowed to be refuelled during the race. This means that teams need to calculate how much fuel to put in their cars before the race begins. This calculation is done by weight, not volume, and the maximum weight of fuel an F1 car can carry is 110 kilograms.
The reason for calculating fuel by weight is that the volume of fuel changes with temperature, whereas the mass does not. This means that the number of litres that fit into an F1 fuel tank varies, although estimates are somewhere between 130 and 145 litres.
F1 teams rarely fill their fuel tanks to the maximum weight of 110 kilograms. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it costs. Instead, teams will under-fuel their cars and deal with the consequences later, which means their drivers will have to do more lifting and coasting throughout the race. However, having a lighter car at the beginning of the race brings benefits in terms of speed and tyre wear.
To ensure an F1 car doesn't run out of fuel during a race, team engineers start making calculations on how much fuel is used per lap during winter testing. They then refine their calculations race by race based on modifications made to the car and the conditions at each race. Throughout the free practice sessions of a race weekend, different race paces will be used to simulate certain periods of the pre-planned race strategy, allowing the engineers to adjust their calculations accordingly.
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F1 fuel is heavily regulated by the FIA
F1 fuel regulations also aim to prevent teams from gaining a significant competitive advantage. Teams are known to exploit loopholes to gain even the smallest advantage, so specific and enforceable regulations are necessary. The regulations cover specifications, composition, and safety requirements to minimize the risk of fire during crashes. F1 fuels contain additives and blending agents to enhance combustion, and each team has designated fuel suppliers that provide a specific blend tailored to their engine characteristics.
The FIA has also pushed for more sustainable fuels, such as advanced biofuels or synthetic fuels. Since 1996, F1 fuel has been required to be Euro 95 standard, with compounds similar to those in road car petrol. F1 fuel must also include a certain percentage of bio-components, with the aim of eventually reaching 100% sustainable fuel. The FIA introduced fuel-flow meters in 2014 to ensure engines do not consume fuel at a rate higher than 100kg per hour, and a second fuel-flow sensor was added in 2020 for better rule enforcement.
Additionally, the FIA regulates the minimum fuel temperature in F1 cars. Before the implementation of this rule, teams would super-cool their fuel, adding unnecessary complexity and cost. However, if the fuel warms up and expands before it is burned, it could rupture the tank and cause fires or explosions, especially during first-lap crashes. Therefore, the FIA's regulation on minimum fuel temperature is crucial for safety.
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F1 cars don't refuel during races
F1 cars have not been allowed to refuel during races since 2010, when the practice was banned by the sport's governing body, the FIA. The ban was introduced for two main reasons: safety and cost.
Refuelling during races was considered dangerous for both drivers and pit crews. In 2009, for example, Heikki Kovalainen drove off with the fuel rig still attached, creating a fire that engulfed Kimi Raikkonen's car. In another incident, Max Verstappen's car caught fire during a pitstop when he was still inside. He recalled: "Then everything went up [in flames] and it was suddenly dark and black, and I couldn’t breathe."
The ban was also implemented to keep a check on racing budgets and cut down on certain expenses.
To ensure an F1 car doesn’t run out of fuel during a race, team engineers start making calculations on how much fuel is used per lap during winter testing. They then refine their calculations race by race based on modifications made to the car and the conditions at each race. The car is fuelled for the race based on these calculations, with the aim of having enough fuel to make it to the end.
F1 cars are allowed up to 110kg of fuel at the start of a race but must provide 1 litre of fuel to the FIA at the end, or risk disqualification. Teams will rarely use their full fuel capacity, as weight slows the car down.
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Frequently asked questions
F1 cars are fully fuelled before a race to ensure they can make it to the finish line. The maximum amount of fuel an F1 car can carry is 110kg, however, teams rarely fill their tanks to capacity as a lighter car is faster. Teams calculate the amount of fuel needed to complete a race based on the number of laps, the car's modifications, and race conditions.
Refuelling during an F1 race has been banned since 2010 due to safety concerns. In 2010, the rules were changed to allow cars to be 22cm bigger to fit larger fuel tanks.
The amount of fuel in an F1 car is measured in weight (kg) rather than volume (L) because volume changes with temperature, whereas mass does not.
