{"id":4920,"date":"2025-08-07T12:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T02:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/f1chronicleau.wpengine.com\/?p=4920"},"modified":"2025-08-07T14:44:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T04:44:18","slug":"what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula 1 Fuel: What Fuel Do F1 Cars Use?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#F1-Fuel\" >F1 Fuel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#What-octane-fuel-do-F1-cars-use\" >What octane fuel do F1 cars use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#How-much-fuel-do-Formula-1-cars-use\" >How much fuel do Formula 1 cars use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#Do-F1-cars-refuel\" >Do F1 cars refuel?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#How-do-F1-cars-not-run-out-of-fuel\" >How do F1 cars not run out of fuel?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#Can-you-use-normal-fuel-in-a-Formula-1-car\" >Can you use normal fuel in a Formula 1 car?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#Formula-1-Fuel-Facts-and-Stats\" >Formula 1 Fuel: Facts and Stats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#F1-Fuel-FAQs\" >F1 Fuel FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#What-type-of-fuel-do-Formula-1-cars-use\" >What type of fuel do Formula\u00a01 cars use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#How-does-F1-fuel-differ-from-regular-road%E2%80%91car-petrol\" >How does F1 fuel differ from regular road\u2011car petrol?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#Why-is-Formula-1-moving-towards-sustainable-fuel\" >Why is Formula\u00a01 moving towards sustainable fuel?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#How-is-fuel-managed-during-a-Grand-Prix-weekend\" >How is fuel managed during a Grand Prix weekend?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/what-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\/#What-changes-are-coming-to-F1-fuel-regulations-in-2026\" >What changes are coming to F1 fuel regulations in 2026?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Formula\u00a01 cars no longer run on pure petrol. In 2024, the sport mandated <strong>E10<\/strong> fuel, a blend of roughly 90\u00a0per cent unleaded petrol and 10\u00a0per cent renewable ethanol. This change marked the first step in a larger sustainability push: under the next generation of hybrid power units due in 2026, F1 teams will transition to a fully sustainable, carbon\u2011neutral fuel that maintains the thrill of racing while slashing emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Except this is F1, so it\u2019s never that simple\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While F1 fuel is not allowed to contain any compounds not found in petrol put into road cars at the local service station, the fuels used do have a different mix.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large-size\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/M206837-1280x720.jpg\" alt=\"2019 Hungarian Grand Prix, Thursday (image courtesy Mercedes-AMG Petronas)\" class=\"wp-image-4921\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/M206837-1280x720.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/M206837-812x541.jpg 960w, https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/M206837-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/M206837-320x180.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"formula-1-fuel\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"F1-Fuel\"><\/span>F1 Fuel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although commercial fuel and F1 fuel are blended using the same chemicals, the final product made for each Formula 1 team is highly optimised for peak performance by each manufacturer. What this means is the fuel made by Shell is optimised for Ferrari, and wouldn\u2019t perform at the same level if it were used by the Mercedes team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>F1 has stayed ahead of the curve regarding fuel and has seen many of the breakthroughs in fuel technology adopted in a commercial setting. For example, until the conclusion of the 2021 season, the F1 regulations stated that fuel must include 5.75% bio-components. Two years after this rule was brought in by the <a aria-label=\"FIA (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FIA<\/a>, this was also made a law for commercial fuels in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the 2022 F1 season and beyond, the bio-component ratio increased to 10% by moving to an E10 fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AP-1YZG19M4W2111_news-812x541.jpg\" alt=\"Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing and Pierre Gasly of France and Red Bull Racing pose for a photo with heritage Esso and Mobil cans to commemorate the 1000th Formula One race during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 11, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (image courtesy Red Bull Racing) \" class=\"wp-image-4922\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>With the new Formula 1 regulations for the 2022 season (which were delayed due to the impact of Covid-19) the sports governing body wanted to push the bio-component ratio to 10%, with the ultimate aim being 100% sustainable fuel for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was a huge change for teams, with Mercedes power unit boss Hywel Thomas saying: \u201cThe change this year to go into the E10 is probably the largest regulation change we&#8217;ve had since 2014\u2026 it shouldn&#8217;t be underestimated how much work that took.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-octane-fuel-do-f1-cars-use\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-octane-fuel-do-F1-cars-use\"><\/span>What octane fuel do F1 cars use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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 at the pump. Often, there is a misconception that the fuel in an F1 car is a high-octane concoction that is completely different to that used in a road car; however, this is not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The complete characteristics of F1 fuel can be found in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-10\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-10 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Property<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Units<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Min<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Max<\/th><th class=\"column-5\"> Test\u00a0Method<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">(RON+MON)\/2\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">87.0<\/td><td class=\"column-4\"><\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ASTM\u00a0D\u00a02699\/D 2700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Oxygen<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">wt%\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3.7<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Elemental\u00a0Analysis\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Nitrogen<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">mg\/kg<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">500<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ASTM\u00a0D 5762<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Benzene<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">wt%\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">1.0<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">GC-MS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">DVPE<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">kPa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">45<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">60(1)<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">EN13016-1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Lead<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">mg\/l<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">5.0<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ASTM\u00a0D 3237 or ICP-OES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Manganese<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">mg\/l<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2.0<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ASTM\u00a0D 3831 or ICP-OES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Metals\u00a0(excluding\u00a0alkali\u00a0metals)\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">mg\/l<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">5.0<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ICP-OES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Oxidation\u00a0Stability<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">minutes<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">360<\/td><td class=\"column-4\"><\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ASTM\u00a0D 525<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Sulphur<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">mg\/kg<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">10<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">EN ISO 20846<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Electrical\u00a0conductivity<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">pS\/m<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">200<\/td><td class=\"column-4\"><\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ASTM\u00a0D 2624<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Final\u00a0Boiling\u00a0Point<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">oC<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">210<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ISO 3405<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Distillation\u00a0Residue<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">%v\/v<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2.0<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">ISO 3405<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-10 from cache -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-much-fuel-do-formula-1-cars-use\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-much-fuel-do-Formula-1-cars-use\"><\/span>How much fuel do Formula 1 cars use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than being calculated in litres or gallons, how much fuel an F1 car uses is calculated in weight. As of 2019, the regulations stated that a car could use up to 110kg (242 pounds) of fuel per race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was increased from the 105kg (231 pounds) allowed in 2018, as F1 bosses wanted drivers to be able to push their cars to the limit lap after lap, without having to worry about conserving fuel. This has now made for more high-octane races in the closing stages, as drivers know they have enough fuel on board to finish the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another change that was introduced in 2020 is that cars are now only allowed to have 250ml of fuel outside of the fuel cell (the Formula 1 fuel tank is actually one single piece of rubber, referred to as a bladder), which is down from two litres in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is to stop teams from trying to gain an advantage by keeping large amounts of fuel outside of the fuel tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-f1-cars-refuel\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do-F1-cars-refuel\"><\/span>Do F1 cars refuel?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No. Refuelling during a race was banned for the 2010 season and beyond due to budget and safety reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Teams first approached the FIA and F1 boss Max Mosley to ban refuelling on the grounds of reducing costs, as there was a great deal of expense in transporting fuel rigs from track to track across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was first rejected as refuelling was seen as an exciting part of race day, as teams who didn\u2019t have the power or performance to match the strongest teams could use a lighter fuel load in qualifying to take pole position and steal a march on their rivals. The downside being they would <a href=\"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/why-do-f1-cars-need-pit-stops\/\" title=\"Why Do F1 Cars Need Pit Stops?\">need to pit<\/a> earlier, thus losing their advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, common sense prevailed, and for the sake of safety for both drivers and pit crew, refuelling was banned by the FIA to ensure there were no further incidents such as the 2009 Brazilian GP, where Heikki Kovalainen drove off with the fuel rig still attached, which created a fire that engulfed Kimi Raikkonen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-f1-cars-not-run-out-of-fuel\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-do-F1-cars-not-run-out-of-fuel\"><\/span>How do F1 cars not run out of fuel?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure an F1 car doesn\u2019t run out of fuel during a race, team engineers start making calculations on how much fuel is used per lap throughout winter testing, then refine their calculations race by race based on modifications made to the car, and the conditions at each race to get their team to the finish line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the free practice sessions of a race weekend, different race paces will be used to simulate certain periods of the pre-planned race strategy, to allow the engineers to adjust their calculations accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The car is then fuelled for the race based on these calculations, with the aim of having enough fuel to make it to the end of the race with the least amount of extra weight being carried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-you-use-normal-fuel-in-a-formula-1-car\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can-you-use-normal-fuel-in-a-Formula-1-car\"><\/span>Can you use normal fuel in a Formula 1 car?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The FIA regulations state that the fuels used in a Formula 1 car must be similar to what can be purchased at the pump for a road car. However, F1 being the innovative sport that it is, means there will always be development done to push the limits of engine power while staying within the boundaries of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, Shell and Ferrari performed an experiment in 2011 where they put the petrol you could buy at a Shell petrol station into their 2009 F1 car in a special test at Fiorano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fernando Alonso was the driver, and he first did four laps using the race fuel, followed by four laps of the commercially available fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the race fuel, he set a time of 1:03.950. When switching to the commercial fuel, he was just 9 tenths slower. The race fuel helped acceleration, but the commercial fuel gave a higher top speed at the end of the straight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In what may have been a canned comment to use in advertising, Alonso said \u201899% of the chemistry in Shell V-Power race fuel is identical to the chemistry used in the road fuel that can be bought at Shell forecourts. The Shell V-Power road fuel felt just as quick as the Formula One fuel. It\u2019s a nice surprise.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/attachment_85596-812x541.jpg\" alt=\"What fuel do f1 cars use? Fernando Alonso ran an interesting test in 2011 while with Ferrari.\" class=\"wp-image-4923\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fernando Alonso (image courtesy Scuderia Ferrari Press Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>So, <strong>what fuel do F1 cars use<\/strong>? As it turns out, it&#8217;s remarkably close to what you put in your car at the bowser!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, and F1 fuel is the pinnacle of petrol \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Formula-1-Fuel-Facts-and-Stats\"><\/span>Formula 1 Fuel: Facts and Stats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>F1 cars use a specialised fuel known as &#8220;high-octane racing fuel.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To improve performance, F1 fuels contain additives and blending agents to enhance combustion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The FIA (International Automobile Federation) regulates the specifications and composition of F1 fuel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each team has designated fuel suppliers that provide a specific blend tailored to their engine characteristics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>F1 fuels have strict safety requirements to minimise the risk of fire during crashes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In recent years, there has been a push towards more sustainable fuels in F1, such as advanced biofuels or synthetic fuels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The exact composition of F1 fuel is considered highly confidential, known only by the teams and fuel suppliers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fuel efficiency plays a crucial role in race strategy, with teams aiming to optimise power output while minimising weight and consumption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The maximum permitted amount of fuel that can be used by an F1 car during a race is limited to 110 kilograms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Formula 1 cars use an average of 110 litres of fuel per race.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average F1 car consumes fuel at a rate of 0.5 litres per kilometre.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approximately 16% of the total weight of an F1 car is fuel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On average, a Formula 1 team uses 350,000 litres of fuel during a full season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The highest recorded fuel consumption in a single race is 145 litres by a Formula 1 car.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In an F1 race, drivers consume roughly 50% of their total fuel load within the first 20 laps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fuel efficiency of an F1 car has improved by 15% over the past decade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teams can spend up to $2 million on fuel alone throughout an entire F1 season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fuel accounts for approximately 7% of the total budget of a Formula 1 team.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"F1-Fuel-FAQs\"><\/span>F1 Fuel FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754541645747\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-type-of-fuel-do-Formula-1-cars-use\"><\/span><strong>What type of fuel do Formula\u00a01 cars use?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Modern F1 cars run on unleaded petrol blended with renewable ethanol. Under current regulations, this mix is known as E10, meaning roughly 90\u00a0per cent premium petrol and 10\u00a0per cent bio\u2011ethanol. <\/p>\n<p>Teams tune their hybrid power units to extract maximum energy from this blend while complying with fuel\u2011flow and capacity rules.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754541706366\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-does-F1-fuel-differ-from-regular-road%E2%80%91car-petrol\"><\/span><strong>How does F1 fuel differ from regular road\u2011car petrol?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Although both are gasoline\u2011based, Formula\u00a01 fuel is formulated for extreme efficiency and power. It has a higher octane rating than standard pump petrol and contains carefully controlled levels of oxygenates like ethanol. Every batch must fall within tightly defined chemical parameters to prevent teams from gaining unfair advantages through exotic additives. In contrast, road\u2011car petrol has broader composition tolerances and lower octane numbers to accommodate a wide range of engines and driving conditions.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754541741133\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why-is-Formula-1-moving-towards-sustainable-fuel\"><\/span><strong>Why is Formula\u00a01 moving towards sustainable fuel?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>F1 has committed to becoming a net\u2011zero carbon sport by 2030. One pillar of that plan is the adoption of a fully sustainable, carbon\u2011neutral fuel by 2026. The series wants to develop fuels that can work in both high\u2011performance racing engines and everyday road cars, helping to decarbonise transport without abandoning internal combustion technology. Sustainable fuel is produced from renewable sources such as waste biomass or captured carbon, so its life\u2011cycle emissions are far lower than those of fossil\u2011based petrol.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754541783676\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-is-fuel-managed-during-a-Grand-Prix-weekend\"><\/span><strong>How is fuel managed during a Grand Prix weekend?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Fuel strategy is a critical part of F1 racing. Teams must declare the amount of fuel they are putting in the car before the race and cannot refuel during the event. Engineers calculate the exact quantity needed to complete the race distance at the desired pace while leaving a mandatory 1\u2011litre sample for scrutineering. Running light improves lap times but risks running out before the finish; carrying extra fuel adds weight and slows the car. Data from practice sessions, weather forecasts and tyre strategies all feed into the final decision.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754541797993\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-changes-are-coming-to-F1-fuel-regulations-in-2026\"><\/span><strong>What changes are coming to F1 fuel regulations in 2026?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In 2026 F1 will introduce new hybrid power units and a fully sustainable fuel. The next\u2011generation engines will generate more power from electrical components and less from internal combustion, and the fuel will be made entirely from renewable feedstocks with no crude\u2011oil content. These changes aim to reduce emissions while keeping cars fast and engaging to watch. The FIA is working with fuel suppliers to ensure the new fuel can eventually be used in road cars, supporting broader adoption of low\u2011carbon fuels.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Formula\u00a01 cars no longer run on pure petrol. In 2024, the sport mandated E10 fuel, a blend of roughly 90\u00a0per cent unleaded petrol and 10\u00a0per&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":4924,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"MSN_Categories":"Sports","MSN_Publish_Option":true,"MSN_Is_Local_News":false,"MSN_Is_AIAC_Included":"No","MSN_Location":"[]","MSN_Add_Feature_Img_On_Top_Of_Post":false,"MSN_Has_Custom_Author":false,"MSN_Custom_Author":"","MSN_Has_Custom_Canonical_Url":false,"MSN_Custom_Canonical_Url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[344,720],"class_list":["post-4920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-formula-1-technology","tag-formula-1-fuel","tag-home_page_sidebar"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-02-11 20:44:07","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f1chronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}