Formula 1 cars are some of the fastest cars on earth, and this power comes with lots of energy consumption. These vehicles are powered by highly anticipated fuels that are not the same as we use in our gasoline-powered cars. F1 car's fuel is designed to give their drives more power on the track, so it is impossible to find F1 fuel at the petrol station. But what if we put Formula 1’s fuel in any regular road or passenger vehicle? Well, the car will have a nervous breakdown. As it malfunctioned the car’s ECU and other components will stop working altogether, unfortunately.
When F1 cars used refuelling during their initial debut, the FIA deliberately regulated the fuel consumption used by every F1 car that they raced on. Since 1996, a rule was implemented that the fuel used in every F1 car should be of Euro 95 standard. This is similar to that of the fuel used in road cars. Alas, this is F1, it has never been so simple. So in this article, we will cover what fuels we will use in modern F1 cars and what steps the F1 racing teams are taking towards sustainable fuels.
Fuel Used In Modern Formula 1 Cars
The fuel used in modern Formula 1 cars is based on E1O standard fuels. This new E10 fuel consists of a mixture of fossil fuels and ethanol as a derivative maybe 90% to 10%. This Ethanol used is of the second generation biofuel that acts like a sustainable fluid. However, this fuel would later pave the way for net-zero carbon emissions. High performance in F1 comes from various factors and one such factor is the fuel consumption.
Fuels used in modern Formula 1 cars are strictly regulated by the FIA and it happens because it is one of the most important factors that play as a winning amenity for any F1 cars. Some Major fuel suppliers such as Shell, Petronas and Exxon Mobil are a few brands that develop e10 standard fuels and supplies to their respective teams. Like, Shell supplies it to Ferrari, and Sauber and Red Bull use Exxon Mobil as their fuel partner. Whereas Mercedes has been partnered with Petronas since 2011.
Sustainable Fuels Used In Formula 1 Cars By 2026
As new engine and technical regulations will be effective from 2026. But the FIA and the teams are working on it before two years of actual implementation of the rules. This new strategic plan would create a 100% sustainable biofuel that would be synthetic with elements from carbon dioxide and hydrogen to upkeep the renewable sources. The chemical composition will somehow be different from the existing E10 as the FIA tries to demote the carbon circle to neutral in total. This neutralisation would produce fuel free from carbon emissions.
Considering the current 2024 scenario the 10% ethanol is used in modern F1 cars and moving from 10% to 100% biofuel in just three years is a competent challenging task. With E10 standards the 100 KG an hour of fuel summons into the engine and proceedings with the sustainable fuel in future would allow the teams to flow 3000 Megajoules of fuel for an hour into the engine. Well, let’s see where would the chemical race engineering would take us. Alas, racing is being improved and it will be soon.
Do let us know in the comments below, how excited are you for F1 going zero net-carbon fuel racing in the future.
