Regan Brown
Formula 1 cars can carry up to 110 kilograms of fuel per race, but teams rarely fill their tanks to the maximum. This is because the more fuel a car starts with, the heavier it is, and the more lap time it loses. F1 engines run on petrol, and the regulations are designed to ensure that the fuel used is not too dissimilar to that used in road cars. F1 fuel has to be formulated from compounds found in commercial fuels and cannot contain any exotic power-boosting chemical compounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maximum fuel usage per race | 110kg |
| Maximum fuel flow rate | 100kg per hour |
| Fuel type | Petrol, E10 fuel (90% gasoline and 10% renewable ethanol) |
| Fuel tank type | Single rubber bladder |
| Fuel tank capacity | 130-145L |
| Fuel tank measurement unit | Kilograms |
| Fuel temperature | No less than 10 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature or 10 degrees Celsius |
| Fuel sampling | 1L sample required for testing by FIA |
| Fuel formulations | 5 types allowed during the season |
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What You'll Learn
F1 cars can carry up to 110kg of fuel
F1 cars don't always carry a full fuel load, as the extra weight can cost them lap time and tyre life. Teams often under-fuel their cars to achieve faster lap times, accepting that their drivers will have to do some lift-and-coast driving during the race. This strategy can be particularly effective if there is a safety car period, during which the car can reduce fuel consumption owing to slower speeds.
F1 fuel regulations are designed to ensure the fuel used is not too dissimilar to that used in road cars. It has to be formulated from compounds found in commercial fuels and can't contain exotic power-boosting chemical compounds. Teams can only use five types of fuel during the season, and each competitor can have a maximum of two formulations available at each event.
Since 2014, F1 cars have been fitted with fuel-flow meters to ensure the engine doesn't consume fuel at a rate faster than 100kg per hour. This is monitored by the FIA, who introduced a second fuel-flow sensor in 2020 to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage.
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Teams often under-fuel their cars for faster lap times
F1 cars can carry up to 110 kg of fuel per race (305 km / 190 miles). However, teams rarely fill their tanks to the maximum capacity, instead opting to under-fuel their cars. This strategy is employed to achieve faster lap times and improve tyre life. By carrying less fuel, the car becomes lighter, resulting in benefits in terms of speed and tyre wear. While this tactic may require drivers to employ fuel-saving techniques such as lift-and-coast during the race, it can ultimately lead to competitive advantages.
The practice of under-fuelling in F1 is not a new phenomenon. Juan Manuel Fangio made history at the 1957 German Grand Prix by being the first driver to start the race with a lower fuel load. Although pitting for fuel was permitted at that time, the slow pace of Fangio's stop almost cost him the victory. Despite the potential risks, under-fuelling has remained a common strategy in F1 due to its potential performance benefits.
The decision to under-fuel is a strategic choice that requires careful consideration. While a lighter car can provide an advantage in terms of speed and tyre wear, it also necessitates fuel-saving techniques during the race. Techniques such as lifting off the throttle before the braking zone (lift-and-coast) and changing settings to decrease fuel consumption can impact the driver's ability to drive flat-out. Therefore, teams must balance the need for speed with the requirement to conserve fuel.
The introduction of hybrid technology and the push for sustainability in F1 have also influenced fuel strategies. Since 2014, F1 cars have been equipped with fuel-flow meters to ensure a maximum fuel consumption rate of 100 kg per hour. This regulation has driven the development of more efficient engines, with some teams achieving over 50% thermal efficiency. As a result, teams are constantly refining their fuel formulations and engine technologies to maximise performance within the fuel restrictions.
In conclusion, the decision to under-fuel F1 cars is a strategic choice that teams make to gain advantages in speed and tyre life. While it may require drivers to employ fuel-saving techniques during the race, the benefits of a lighter car can ultimately contribute to faster lap times and improved performance. This strategy is influenced by regulations, sustainability initiatives, and the constant pursuit of maximising performance within the constraints of fuel restrictions.
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Fuel-flow meters ensure engines can't consume fuel at more than 100kg/hour
Fuel efficiency has become a major focus in Formula 1 racing, with F1 regulations pushing towards sustainability. Since 2014, F1 cars have been equipped with fuel-flow meters to monitor and control their fuel consumption. These meters, overseen by the FIA, ensure that engines cannot consume fuel at a rate exceeding 100 kg per hour. The sensors check the flow an astounding 2200 times per second, providing precise data and control over fuel usage.
The introduction of fuel-flow meters is part of a broader effort to enhance fuel efficiency in F1 racing. This push for efficiency is evident in the 2020 Mercedes engine, which boasts a thermal efficiency of over 50%, compared to around 44% when these engines were first introduced in 2014. This surpasses the thermal efficiency of typical road cars, which reach approximately 30%.
F1 cars are now fuelled to complete the race distance, with refuelling during the race banned since 2010. This strategy further emphasises the importance of fuel management and efficiency. Teams must carefully calculate the required fuel load, balancing the need for speed and tyre life with the risk of running out of fuel.
The fuel-flow meters are an essential tool in enforcing the regulations and ensuring fair competition. In 2020, the FIA introduced a second fuel-flow sensor to enhance the accuracy and security of fuel usage measurements, utilising encrypted data to prevent any circumvention by the teams.
As F1 continues to strive towards sustainability, the development of more efficient engines and fuel systems is becoming increasingly crucial. The sport aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, with the introduction of 100% sustainable fuel on the horizon. The fuel-flow meters, limiting consumption to 100 kg per hour, play a pivotal role in this journey, ensuring that F1 engines become more efficient with each passing season.
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F1 fuel must be formulated from compounds found in commercial fuels
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). However, teams rarely fill the tanks to capacity, as the weight of the fuel slows the car down, costing valuable lap time. Instead, teams will strategically under-fuel their cars and deal with the consequences later in the race. This strategy is known as "short-fuelling".
F1 fuel regulations are designed to ensure that the fuel used in F1 is not entirely dissimilar to that used in road cars. F1 fuel must be formulated from compounds found in commercial fuels and cannot contain any exotic power-boosting chemical compounds. Each competitor can have up to five formulations approved for use during the season and can have a maximum of two of those available at each event.
The process of formulating F1 fuel is highly complex and involves mixing hundreds of compounds in precise percentages to optimise performance. ExxonMobil, for example, works closely with Honda to test and develop new blends that deliver more power or better fuel economy. Before a new fuel can be used, two separate 5-litre samples must be submitted to the FIA for analysis and approval. The FIA uses a gas chromatograph to analyse the fuel, producing a unique "fingerprint" that represents the presence and concentration of each compound.
F1 has been at the forefront of fuel technology innovation, with many breakthroughs in F1 fuel technology later adopted in commercial settings. For example, the 2021 F1 regulations mandated a 5.75% bio-component ratio in fuel, which was subsequently adopted for commercial fuels in Europe. In 2022, F1 moved to E10 fuel, which contains 10% bio-components, and the sport aims to achieve 100% sustainable fuel by 2026.
F1 fuel blenders face the challenge of optimising fuel performance while also considering fuel efficiency. While power optimisation is a priority, it must be balanced with fuel efficiency to ensure the car has enough fuel to complete the race. The introduction of hybrid technology and the Energy Recovery System (ERS) in F1 has further emphasised the importance of fuel efficiency, with F1 engines now achieving over 50% thermal efficiency, far surpassing the 30% efficiency of a typical road car.
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F1 aims to develop 100% sustainable fuel by 2030
Formula 1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km / 190 miles). However, they rarely 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. F1 regulations have had a massive push towards fuel efficiency in recent years. The 2020 Mercedes engine, for example, is over 50% thermally efficient, meaning that over half of the energy in the fuel is used to propel the car.
F1 fuel has to be formulated from compounds found in commercial fuels and cannot contain any exotic power-boosting chemical compounds. Currently, F1 says they use E10 fuel, consisting of 90% gasoline and 10% renewable ethanol. However, F1 has committed to developing 100% sustainable fuel by 2026, with the new iteration of hybrid power units being ready for that change. This ambition is a big part of F1's push towards becoming net-zero by 2030 as part of its wider sustainability goals.
F1 has been working in partnership with Aramco and the FIA to develop this fuel, and they have tested more than 39 blends in the process. In 2024, F2 and F3 cars ran on 55% Aramco advanced sustainable fuel, and the FIA medical and safety cars operated on 40%. This will move to 100% in F2 and F3 cars for 2025 ahead of F1 cars adopting the fuel in 2026. F1's Chief Technical Officer, Pat Symonds, is heading the team focused on creating this revolutionary fuel.
The fuel that F1 will run in a few years will be unique and lab-created. "E fuels offer such a wonderful opportunity," says Ross Brawn, F1's Managing Director of Motorsports. "We're working on an E-fuel where the carbon circle is completely neutral, so the carbon utilized to produce that fuel is the same quantity as the carbon emitted from the internal combustion engine. It means that the engines do not add anything to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."
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Frequently asked questions
F1 cars can carry up to 110kg of fuel per race (305km/190 miles). However, teams often put less fuel in the car to reduce weight and increase speed.
In the past, F1 cars used to have a maximum fuel capacity of 105kg. In-race refuelling was also allowed until 2010.
FIA, the governing body of F1, has implemented several regulations to monitor and control fuel usage. These include fuel-flow meters, sensors, and strict rules on fuel composition and temperature.
F1 cars currently use E10 fuel, which consists of 90% gasoline and 10% renewable ethanol. There are plans to introduce 100% sustainable fuel by 2026.
The fuel allocation for Le Mans is different from other circuits. For hybrid cars, the maximum petrol flow is 80.2kg/hour, while non-hybrid cars are allowed up to 110kg/hour. The allocation for other circuits is calculated based on the length relative to Le Mans.
