A New Era of Sustainable Fuel: FIA introduces major step to provide certified 100% sustainable fuel for all

– FIA Sustainable Fuel Certification Programme creates a robust tool to guarantee the environmental sustainability of fuels

– Primary application in FIA Formula One World Championship from 2026

– Cascading to other motor sport categories and compatibility with any internal combustion engine central to concept

As the prevalence of internal combustion engines (ICE) continues to grow across the global vehicle fleet, the FIA has identified the development of fully sustainable fuels as a critical area of focus for decarbonising the transport sector. 

With research and development efforts in this area a key focus for several years, a milestone was achieved in December 2020 when the first batches of 100% sustainable fuel, derived from bio-waste, were delivered to power unit manufacturers for testing and validation.

The FIA remains dedicated to advancing sustainable practices across the motor sport and automotive sectors – fully sustainable fuels have already been mandated in several FIA competitions, including the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in 2021 and FIA World Rally and World Endurance Championships in 2022. The next step in our development of this project is the provision of FIA-certified 100% sustainable fuels, which will be deployed in F1 in 2026 and move to all racing disciplines in the future. This initiative underscores the FIA’s leadership in promoting environmentally responsible racing and establishing a new benchmark for the industry.

For the 2026 Formula 1 season, the FIA has mandated the use of 100% sustainable fuel derived from ‘Advanced Sustainable Components’ (ASCs), ensuring they are sourced from non-food biomass, renewable feedstock of non-biological origin or municipal waste, and meet stringent greenhouse gas emissions thresholds. These regulations are designed to be compatible with the requirements of the existing fleet of over 1 Billion internal combustion engines (ICEs) worldwide, demonstrating the potential for broader adoption beyond motor sport and everyday drivers.

To ensure compliance with these stringent standards, the FIA has collaborated with Zemo Partnership, an independent provider of assurance services, to develop the Sustainable Racing Fuel Assurance Scheme (SRFAS). This scheme employs a robust third-party verification process to guarantee that all Formula 1 racing fuel meets the FIA’s criteria for blended fuel composition and the sustainability of its advanced sustainable components (ASCs).

The SRFAS employs a rigorous verification process that focuses on three key aspects:

1. Chain of Custody: Tracing the origin and movement of each ASC throughout the supply chain to ensure compliance with the FIA’s stringent criteria for feedstock sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions disclosure.
2. Fuel Composition: Analysing the blended racing fuel to verify the accurate composition and traceability of ASCs.
3. Emissions Performance: Measuring and verifying the greenhouse gas emission performance of the final blended racing fuel to ensure it meets the FIA’s sustainability targets.

The FIA’s Sustainable Fuel Certification Programme has implications that reach far beyond the racetrack. By pioneering sustainable fuel technologies in motor sport, the FIA aims to catalyse the development and adoption of these fuels for everyday vehicles. Through future partnerships with global fuel providers, the long-term goal is to make these fuels accessible to the vehicle transportation market, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.

FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem said: “Innovation and progress go hand in hand and the FIA is at the forefront as we drive towards a sustainable future. Alternative fuels are the next step, and today we are bringing a significant part of our sustainability vision to life with the availability of FIA-certified sustainable fuel, underpinned by an extremely robust procedure we can all be confident in. These on-track innovations continue to help grow on-road changes that impact each of us in our daily lives.”