Formula 1 makes « progress » in sustainable development
Formula 1 has published its first impact report, revealing that the sport is well on the way to achieving the goals set out in its sustainability strategy.
The Net Zero by 2030 campaign of F1 aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% compared to its 2018 baseline scenario, which includes the energy consumption of its facilities, F1 races, and all travel and logistics between them. It is committed to implementing a credible offset strategy for the remaining emissions.
Although all the data for 2023 is not yet available, the latest F1 impact report mentions a 13% decrease between 2018 and 2022, while detailing the latest initiatives of the series to help achieve this goal.
The logistical aspect of organizing a 24-race calendar means that this area now accounts for 49% of its carbon footprint, with several initiatives underway to mitigate the impact of its expansion.
We are a global sport with over 700 million fans worldwide. This gives us an excellent platform to create change and influence those who watch and engage with F1 to take action and leave their own positive legacy, explains Ellen Jones, Head of Energy, Sustainable Development and Governance at F1.
Changes at the logistics level
Following the transition to more efficient Boeing 777F cargo aircraft, logistics partner DHL has switched to a new fleet of 18 trucks powered by biofuel to reduce emissions on the nine European routes on the schedule. The restructuring of the overseas schedule is also a key element of increased logistics streamlining.
« The reason it is important is that the schedule reflects our current freight model, in which the majority of emissions come from air freight traveling from one point to another,” Ellen Jones said.
Although it is still a work in progress, moving the Japanese Grand Prix to its new spring date would be one of the changes contributing to improving the flow of freight from Australia and China to the following races.
« When you manage to reduce these distances, you can reduce your carbon footprint, in addition to the technological innovation that we can then support, such as biofuels and trucks, as well as sustainable aviation fuel in the future. »
The F1 has also found ways to reduce the amount of freight and personnel needed at events, instead increasing its remote capabilities. The transition to renewable energy, both at home and abroad, is really of great importance to us and is truly driving the first 13% of our reductions, stated Jones.
In the 2022 statistics, a 56% decrease in emissions was observed in factories and facilities. To be taken into account in 2023 and beyond, you can also start seeing how we are transitioning to renewable energies outside the United Kingdom.
Make way for renewable energies
Last year, F1 tested renewable energy generators powered by biofuel and solar energy at the Austrian Grand Prix, which it says reduced paddock emissions by 90%. These findings will be used to power more races in the same way in the future. This is part of an effort to encourage promoters to make their events more sustainable.
Jones claims that over 75% of race promoters are now integrating renewable energies into their events. The first thing we did when I started here about two years ago was to update the contracts. We need to state what our expectations are for hosting a Formula 1 event, explained Jones.
For example, all F2 and F3 cars tested a sustainable fuel at 55% in partnership with Aramco, while Formula 1 took a new step towards using 100% sustainable fuel in F1 cars in 2026, alongside the new regulations on the sport’s power units.
Formula 1 will switch to turbocharged V6 hybrid engines running on sustainable fuels from 2026, even though the emissions from its fleet of 20 cars themselves represent less than one percent of its total footprint. This decision is therefore mainly seen as a way to influence the industry to adopt carbon-neutral fuel sustainably.
As for Formula 1 itself, the manager is convinced that it is on the right track to achieve its goal of a 50% reduction by 2030 once the effect of its most recent series of initiatives can be measured, even if she warned that Formula 1’s gains will not be linear.
We are definitely on the right track to achieve this goal and the key elements are the results of the tests and work that you can read in the 2023 report.
« It is also this shared impact of bringing other people with us on the journey. It is something that the ten teams have a different solution when they are in the paddock. There are much greater savings when you have a centralized solution, on which people can work together.
