Artur Musiał  

Formula 1, frequently seen as the pinnacle of motorsport, is a racing series featuring vehicles capable of reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h. Governed by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), it comprises of a number of events over the year, with 24 Grand Prix in 2025, where both the teams and drivers fight for the title of the world champions. Since races take place around the globe and one grand prix typically lasts around 120 minutes, the sport generates an immense carbon footprint, with the 2018 season reportedly reaching a staggering 228,793 tonnes of CO2 emitted(“F1 On Track to Be Net Zero by 2030 With 26% Reduction in Carbon Footprint – Formula 1,” 2025), which is equivalent to burning 115,278,992 kg of coal(Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, 2024). 

Addressing this problem mattered a lot as Formula 1 is watched by millions every year and catches the eye of many more. Because of how popular it is, it has become a benchmark for other motorsport series. This influence puts pressure on other racing series in terms of limiting CO2 emissions, making the sport more ecologically friendly, but also increases the rate of development in technologies for cleaner racing. This equipment can later be adapted to normal road cars, for example, the kinetic energy recovery system(KERS), which originated from F1 in 2009, later making its way into hybrid road cars (Georgiades & Georgiades, 2026).  

To resolve the problem with the emissions, the FIA launched a Net Zero program in 2019. The first changes focused on the cars themselves. This has led to a complete overhaul of a racing car combustion system and the introduction of a new, more sustainable fuel made without any crude oil. Furthermore, all Pirelli tires used in Formula 1 races are now made entirely by using energy from renewable sources, in addition to being FSC-approved, meaning that after the race they can be transformed into secondary raw materials. With the 2026 regulations, they also brought a 50/50 split between the combustion engine and the electric battery, from the earlier 80/20 split in favor of combustion engines. 

Other changes concerned the logistical side of things, as with races happening on five continents, the eleven participating teams have had to fly the most essential race equipment from one part of the world to another multiple times a year. As a solution, the federation introduced a more regionally focused schedule, in which the order of the races follows the continent they take place in. For example, the European Grands Prix all happen after each other, and as a result, the team’s cargo can be transported by land rather than by air, minimizing carbon emissions. Furthermore, both transport methods have been optimized, with F1 using Boeing 777 planes and cargo trucks that are fuelled on biofuel, which significantly reduces emissions. 

These changes have already shown an impact, as of 2024, the reported CO2 emission totalled 168,720 tonnes, which is 26% less than in 2018(“F1 On Track to Be Net Zero by 2030 With 26% Reduction in Carbon Footprint – Formula 1,” 2025). If this trend continues, it is predicted that by 2030, F1 will officially be Net Zero. This means it would have successfully reduced its emissions by 50% compared with 2018, which would allow the remaining unavoidable emissions to be balanced through carbon removal done by nature. 

Bibliography:  

Georgiades, S., & Georgiades, S. (2026, February 12). F1 Tech – From race cars to road vehicles. Plan Insurance. https://www.planinsurance.co.uk/blog/f1-tech-race-cars-road-vehicles  

Greenhouse gas equivalencies Calculator. (2024, November). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator 

https://www.planinsurance.co.uk/blog/f1-tech-race-cars-road-vehicles

F1 on track to be Net Zero by 2030 with 26% reduction in carbon footprint – Formula 1. (2025, July 23). Formula 1. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/formula-1-on-track-to-be-net-zero-by-2030-with-26-reduction-in-carbon.4p2vZMDrgDu6lVHLvOcLPy 

Santi, A. (2025, October 23). The surprising truth about Formula 1’s new sustainable fuel. BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/synthetic-fuels-formula-1