The Race Towards Sustainability in Formula 1
Formula 1. The name alone conjures images of blurred cars slicing through the circuit of Monaco, tire smoke curling in the air of Silverstone, and engines howling through the streets of Monza. But beyond the spectacle and champagne, the world’s fastest sport has found itself at another race – the race towards sustainability.
As global environmental concerns escalate, Formula 1 finds itself at a crossroads between tradition and adaptation. But how exactly can a sport synonymous with speed, technology, and gasoline really steer itself towards a net-zero future?
Formula 1 has boldly pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, which means balancing its carbon footprint to be negligible. This plan covers everything from team travel, energy usage at events, and even shipping logistics. It is an ambitious target to reach within 5 years, and one that requires widespread cooperation within the whole sport. Beyond this, Formula 1 has also pledged to leave a legacy of positive change wherever it races and take steps to build a more diverse and inclusive sport (1).
A significant environmental sustainability area targeted in the past has been what goes into the cars themselves. The sport currently uses a 10% renewable ethanol blend, but it aims to switch to a 100% sustainable fuel in 2026 (2). While power unit emissions account for less than 1% of Formula 1’s carbon emissions (3), the hope is that this advance will trickle down to everyday cars. Afterall, technological development in Formula 1 affects commercial cars across the automotive industry, thus any movement made towards sustainability in the sport has huge implications.
Beyond fuel, Formula 1 has also increased efforts to reduce waste, eliminate single-use plastic, and make Grand Prixs as eco-friendly as possible. A good example of this is the Singaporean Grand Prix. The event structured a sustainability framework around the 3Rs principle – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This involved installing solar panels to generate energy, trialling electric buses, and other initiatives (4). This is all part of F1’s effort to prove that you can have the entertainment of motorsports without leaving a world-sized footprint.
Of course, sustainability is more than just the environment. Formula 1’s other goals also involve making the sport more accessible to everyone. A truly sustainable future would be one where everyone gets a chance to join the race, whether they’re on the track, in the paddock, or watching from the stands. This means opening doors for people from all backgrounds and making sure the next generation of fans can see themselves reflected in the sport.
In the end, F1’s sustainability efforts matter for more than just the sport. As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 is where new technologies can be tested at more than 200 mph before finding their way into everyday life. If F1 can show that high performance and sustainability can coexist, it might inspire other industries to follow suit. The chequered flag for a sustainable future might still be far down the track, but the ambition is real and the race is on.
References
1. Parker, L. Net Zero Carbon | Formula One World Championship Limited. https://corp.formula1.com/impact/net-zero-carbon/ (2023).
2. Clinic, H. What Fuel Powers the Formula 1 Cars Today? Medium https://medium.com/@halleysclinic/what-fuel-powers-the-formula-1-cars-today-1a90296aff32 (2025).
3. Formula 1 2023 Impact Report. (2024).
4. Singapore Grand Prix 2024 Impact Report.
