Regan Brown
F1 cars can carry a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race, although teams often put in less fuel to reduce weight and improve lap times. The amount of fuel an F1 car can use per race was increased to 110 kilograms in 2019, up from 105 kilograms, to prevent drivers from having to use fuel-saving techniques like lift-and-coast to reach the end of the race. Since 2014, F1 cars have been fitted with fuel-flow meters to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate faster than 100 kilograms per hour.
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What You'll Learn
F1 fuel is measured in kilograms
The maximum amount of fuel an F1 car can use per race is 110 kilograms, which was increased by 5 kilograms in 2019. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it costs. The aerodynamics on the current generation of cars increase downforce, and the resulting extra drag has upped fuel consumption across the grid. This was leading to drivers struggling to reach the end of the race without using precautions such as lift-and-coast.
Since 2014, F1 cars have also had fuel-flow meters, monitored by the FIA, to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at more than the rate of 100 kilograms per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. For the 2020 season, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage, with encrypted data to ensure that the teams cannot circumvent the measurements.
The fuel tank in an F1 car is not shaped like a cube but is more saddle-shaped. Each fuel cell is roughly 80cm wide, 50cm high, and around 60cm long. This is to fit the tank behind the driver's seat and around some other structures in the centre of the car.
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Maximum fuel allowance per race
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). This limit was increased by 5 kilograms in 2019 to allow drivers to push harder throughout the race. The higher downforce of the current generation of cars increases drag, which in turn increases fuel consumption.
The maximum fuel allowance is measured in kilograms because fuel expands or contracts depending on temperature. The colder the fuel, the denser it is. To ensure safety and parity, the Technical Regulations state that the fuel in a car must not be colder than 10 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature or 10 degrees Celsius – whichever is lower – at any time when the car is running outside the garage. It is also forbidden to decrease the temperature of the fuel using a device in or on a car.
Since 2014, F1 cars have been fitted with fuel-flow meters, monitored by the FIA, to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at more than the rate of 100kg per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. For the 2020 season, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage, with encrypted data to ensure that the teams cannot circumvent the measurements.
Teams often put less than the maximum amount of fuel in their cars to reduce weight and improve lap times. This means that drivers have to adopt fuel-saving techniques such as 'lift-and-coast' to ensure they have enough fuel to finish the race.
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Fuel flow meters and sensors
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). However, teams have control over the amount of fuel put in the car, and they do not always fill it up to the maximum capacity. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it loses.
Since 2014, F1 cars have been required to have fuel-flow meters to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate higher than 100kg per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. The FIA uses an ultrasonic sensor that gauges the mass of fuel passing through to the engine. The sensor is contactless so that it does not restrict the fuel flow. The ultrasonic flow meters can accurately measure up to 8 litres of fuel per minute, or 480 litres per hour, which is much higher than the maximum allowed in F1.
The ultrasonic sensors can measure flow in both directions, transient and steady flow, flow direction, temperature, cumulative usage, and the speed of sound. They are also highly accurate even in the presence of heavy vibrations.
In 2020, the FIA introduced a second fuel-flow sensor with encrypted data to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage.
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Fuel temperature and safety
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). However, teams have control over the amount of fuel they put in the car, and they often fill the car with less than the maximum amount of fuel. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it loses.
Fuel temperature is an important aspect of safety in F1 racing. F1 cars never operate below operating temperature as they pre-heat the coolant before startup. Higher operating temperatures require materials that are stable at those temperatures. For instance, F1 cars require a pressurized system to go over 100°C, which could be a safety hazard for road cars.
Additionally, according to Article 6.5.5 of the Formula One technical regulations, "No fuel on board the car may be more than ten degrees centigrade below ambient temperature." This regulation is in place to prevent performance advantages from temperature variation. For example, higher-density fuel at lower temperatures could provide a larger delta in temperature from liquid to gas under pressure, leading to increased power and efficiency.
Furthermore, high-performance aero engines require fuel flow to keep their injectors from melting, and some designs deliberately circulate fuel around hot areas for cooling. As fuel expands or contracts depending on temperature, it is measured in kilograms in F1 racing.
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Fuel efficiency and sustainability
The amount of fuel an F1 car can use per race was increased to 110 kilograms in 2019, a rise of 5 kilograms from the previous limit. This change was implemented to enable drivers to push harder throughout the race, as advancements in aerodynamics on the cars had increased drag and fuel consumption, causing some drivers to struggle to reach the end of the race without employing fuel-saving measures.
Since 2014, F1 cars have been subject to a fuel-flow restriction of 100 kilograms per hour, enforced through fuel-flow meters monitored by the FIA. This limit is checked by sensors that measure the pressure and temperature of the fuel 2200 times per second. The FIA introduced a second fuel-flow sensor for the 2020 season to better enforce the rules surrounding fuel usage, with data encryption to prevent teams from circumventing the measurements.
F1 regulations have increasingly emphasized fuel efficiency and sustainability. The introduction of highly efficient turbocharged hybrid power units in 2014 marked a shift towards balancing high performance with sustainability. Modern F1 power units have achieved thermal efficiency of over 50%, a significant improvement from the 32% figure before 2014. The fuel itself has also become more sustainable, with teams now using E10 fuel, which consists of 10% renewable ethanol.
Additionally, F1 cars have been required to use fuel bladders instead of rigid tanks since 1970. These bladders must conform to strict FIA safety standards and are located within a specific range of coordinates in the car. In the event of a crash, the fuel bladder is designed not to leak, prioritizing the safety of the driver and the surrounding area.
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Frequently asked questions
F1 cars can carry a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race, but teams often put in less fuel to reduce weight and improve lap times.
Since 1970, F1 regulations have mandated the use of fuel bladders instead of rigid tanks. These bladders are made of rubber and conform to strict FIA safety rules.
In-race refuelling is banned as of 2010. Instead, cars are fuelled to complete the entire race distance. Refuelling is only permitted during free practice and qualifying in competitors' garages.
