Sylvie Willis
F1 cars are fuelled by a blend of 90% fuel and 10% renewable ethanol, or E10 fuel. Since 1996, the fuel used by F1 cars has been heavily regulated by the FIA, with rules stipulating that it must be composed of compounds normally found in commercial fuels. F1 fuel is calculated in weight rather than volume, with cars allowed to use a maximum of 110kg of fuel per race. The fuel is highly optimised for peak performance, with blends tuned for maximum performance in given weather conditions or different circuits. F1 is pushing to become net-zero carbon by 2030, with plans to introduce 100% sustainable fuels by 2026.
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What You'll Learn
- F1 cars use a minimum of 87 octane fuel, similar to road cars
- F1 fuel is regulated by the FIA, with rules on composition and additives
- F1 cars can use a maximum of 110kg of fuel per race
- F1 is pushing for carbon neutrality with 100% sustainable fuels by 2026
- F1 cars have fuel-flow meters to ensure fuel efficiency and compliance
F1 cars use a minimum of 87 octane fuel, similar to road cars
F1 cars use a minimum of 87 octane fuel, which is similar to the fuel used in road cars. This has been the case since 1996, when the FIA brought in a rule that F1 fuel had to be Euro 95 standard, meaning it had to contain the same compounds as the fuel used in road cars. While F1 fuel is optimised for peak performance, it is chemically similar to commercial fuel.
F1 cars are allowed to use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km or 190 miles). However, they do not 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 amount of fuel an F1 car can use per race was increased to 110 kilograms in 2019, up from 105 kilograms in 2018, to allow drivers to push their cars to the limit without worrying about conserving fuel.
F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters since 2014 to ensure that the engine cannot consume fuel at a rate of more than 100 kilograms per hour. The sensor checks the flow 2200 times per second. In 2020, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced with encrypted data to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage.
F1 is pushing to become net-zero carbon by 2030 and is currently using E10 fuel, which contains 10% renewable ethanol. By 2026, F1 will use 100% sustainable fuel with its new era of power units. This move towards sustainability is necessary for the sport's future, as it travels the world in the name of entertainment.
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F1 fuel is regulated by the FIA, with rules on composition and additives
F1 fuel is heavily regulated by the FIA, with strict rules on composition and additives. Since 1996, F1 fuel has had to meet the Euro 95 standard, meaning it must contain the same compounds as those found in commercial petrol. This requirement is based on European Parliament decisions for commercial gasoline produced since 2000. While F1 fuel is optimised for performance, it cannot contain compounds not found in standard petrol.
F1 cars use a minimum of 87-octane fuel, similar to the petrol used in road cars. The amount of fuel an F1 car can use is calculated in weight rather than volume, with a maximum of 110 kg of fuel per race. This limit was introduced in 2019 to allow drivers to push their cars without worrying about fuel conservation.
F1 fuel regulations include strict safety rules to prevent accidents. Cars are fitted with sensors that monitor fuel pressure, temperature, and flow rate to ensure compliance with regulations. The fuel tanks are made from puncture-proof Kevlar and are designed to be deformable, reducing the risk of fire in an accident.
F1 is also moving towards more sustainable fuels, with the introduction of E10 fuel, which contains 10% renewable ethanol. By 2026, F1 aims to use 100% sustainable fuel, with engine regulations mandating carbon-neutral fuel that does not release new fossil fuel carbon. This push for sustainability is a necessity for the sport's future, as it involves travelling worldwide for races and entertainment.
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F1 cars can use a maximum of 110kg of fuel per race
The amount of fuel an F1 car uses is calculated in weight rather than volume. This is because volume can vary with temperature and pressure, whereas weight remains constant. F1 fuel is highly optimised for peak performance by each manufacturer. While it must be composed of compounds normally found in commercial fuels, it can contain additives for more power or temperature control. The fuel used in an F1 car is a minimum of 87 octane, keeping in line with the requirement that the petrol used must be similar to what you would put in a road car.
F1 cars have had fuel-flow meters since 2014 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. For the 2020 season, a second fuel-flow sensor was introduced with encrypted data to better police the rules surrounding fuel usage. F1 regulations have had a massive push towards fuel efficiency in recent years. The 2020 Mercedes engine is now over 50% thermally efficient, meaning that over half of the energy in the fuel is used to propel the car.
F1 is also moving towards more sustainable fuels. The sport is currently using E10 fuel, which contains 10% renewable ethanol. In 2026, F1 will introduce 100% sustainable fuel with its new era of power units. This will be a unique, lab-created fuel with a completely neutral carbon circle, meaning the carbon used to produce the fuel will equal the carbon emitted. F1 is pushing to become net-zero carbon by 2030, which could be its next legacy.
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F1 is pushing for carbon neutrality with 100% sustainable fuels by 2026
F1 cars have been using a minimum of 87-octane fuel, which is similar to the petrol used in road cars. The fuel used in these cars is heavily regulated by the FIA and has to be Euro 95 standard. While F1 fuel is optimised for peak performance, it cannot contain any compounds not found in regular petrol.
F1 is now pushing for carbon neutrality with 100% sustainable fuels by 2026. This is part of the sport's sustainability strategy, which was launched in 2019, with the aim of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. F1 currently uses E10 fuel, which contains 10% renewable ethanol. However, the new regulations will require the use of fully sustainable fuels, with no new fossil fuel carbon released during production.
The development of 100% sustainable fuels is expected to have a significant impact beyond the race cars. It is prompting research and development into different types of sustainable fuels, which could potentially be used in road gasoline. F1 is not allowing the use of co-processing, where renewable feedstocks and crude oil are processed simultaneously, as it is critical for achieving scale while building new plants.
In addition to the introduction of 100% sustainable fuels, the 2026 engine regulations include a boost in electrical power, with cars running a more robust electrical element and harvesting more braking energy. The new power units will produce up to 350 kilowatts of energy, compared to the current 120 kilowatts. There will also be lower fuel loads, with a maximum of 70 kilograms of fuel allowed, down from 100 kilograms in 2020. These changes are expected to reduce costs for teams, as they will face an engine-specific cost cap, and some systems, such as the MGU-H, have been removed due to their lack of road relevance.
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F1 cars have fuel-flow meters to ensure fuel efficiency and compliance
The fuel-flow meters are designed to prevent any controlled manipulation of the fuel flow and ensure fair competition and sporting integrity. The meters can accurately measure up to 8 litres of fuel per minute or 480 litres per hour, which is significantly higher than the maximum allowed in F1. This allows for precise monitoring and measurement, avoiding any potential trickery by teams.
The introduction of the fuel-flow meters is part of F1's efforts to reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency. In 2014, a new rulebook was introduced, enforcing a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and setting an upper limit on the fuel allowed to be consumed at 100 kg per race. This limit is calculated by mass rather than volume, and no car may exceed this amount from the start of the race to the finish line.
The fuel-flow meters work using ultrasonic technology to calculate the flow rate. They utilise the differential transit time principle, measuring the velocity of fluid using ultrasound and time-of-flight technology. This technology allows for minimal interference with the flow path, resulting in higher accuracy. The sensors have no moving parts and are installed in the fuel cell area of the car, making them highly complex to change.
F1 has also introduced other measures to reduce fuel consumption, such as the Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) elements, which focus on efficiency and road relevancy. F1 is also transitioning to more sustainable fuels, aiming to be net-zero carbon by 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
F1 cars currently use E10 fuel, which is a blend of 90% fuel and 10% renewable ethanol. By 2026, F1 cars will use 100% sustainable fuel.
F1 cars can use a maximum of 110 kilograms of fuel per race (305km or 190 miles). However, they 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.
Refuelling during a race is prohibited in F1. Teams have to fill the car with enough fuel to last the entire race.
