How does Formula 1 adapt to ecology?

Ecology is one of the biggest debates of the last decades. Whether it’s in everyday life, in a country’s politics, or in sports, this aspect always comes up. Laws, global summits, and regulations are regularly updated. The goal is to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of humans, as well as their carbon footprint.

Formula 1 is being heavily criticized, in a very negative way. The entire motor racing industry is a large consumer of fossil fuel energy. There are several electric championships, including Formula E, but they represent a minuscule portion. And the production of batteries is also under ecological scrutiny.

Therefore, the FIA is regularly criticized because it organizes races to entertain people. In this context, the authorities have worked on improvements and standards to reduce the impact of Formula 1 on the environment.

Hybrid vehicles

Formula 1 cars have been hybrid vehicles since 2014. As a result, they use less fuel. These hybrid turbocharged V6 engines replaced the highly energy-consuming naturally aspirated V8 engines. That’s why commentators and drivers talk about energy recovery during races, especially at high speeds.

Since this implementation, the amount of fuel carried by the single-seaters has decreased. Before the arrival of hybrid technology, vehicles had tanks of 160 litres. Now, cars race with around a hundred liters in their tank.

By 2030, the FIA has committed to achieving carbon neutrality on the track. Consequently, petrol will be less and less present in these cars. Biofuels have also been tested to reduce the use of fossil energies. This fuel is made up of food and agricultural waste, notably.

The 3-star accreditation

In order to work towards environmental protection, the FIA has implemented an accreditation system since 2011. To obtain this qualification, teams must meet 17 specific criteria. Then, an independent auditor evaluates and awards the stars. Mercedes was one of the first teams to meet all these criteria by the end of 2020. Some teams, like Alpine, had to wait until April 2023 to be qualified.

This accreditation criterion also exists for the tire supplier Pirelli (which obtained it) and the circuits on the calendar. However, obtaining this qualification does not guarantee teams to keep it for life. The teams must continue their efforts and ensure their commitment to the environment.

Recycled tires

Tires are among the most consumed tools in Grand Prix racing. Over a race weekend, Pirelli provides 13 sets of slick tires per driver. In addition to these sets, Pirelli brings seven sets of rain tires. During a typical weekend, if the drivers do not have any particular issues, almost all of the tires are used.

Only rain tires sets are not systematically used. However, to ensure the smooth running of a weekend, Pirelli brings 1,600 tires, representing several trailers of rubber.

Once the tires have been used, the Italian brand recycles them. The tires are collected, then cut into pieces before being burned at over 1,400°. The resulting residue in the form of fine particles is subsequently transformed into fuel, powering cement factories. This process has been used by Pirelli for all its sports tires since 2002.

Consumable parts

In Formula 1, there are a lot of breakages, which are an integral part of the inherent risks. It happens that the front and rear wings, as well as other parts, break, thus generating waste to manage. Even though regulations require teams to avoid waste, at the end of a Grand Prix, the containers are often full.

This problem also has repercussions in factories. During development and testing, parts break. Even if teams sometimes try to reuse them, they are sometimes simply thrown away. In addition, factories consume a lot. They operate almost constantly at full capacity, producing pieces and improvements in series. Production waste, including CO2, is released into the air.

The huge hiccup of the convoys

Formula 1 is similar to a giant circus. The teams and organizations are constantly on the move. Teams typically spend a maximum of five days in a country before moving on to the next host. To transport the cars, structures, and equipment, enormous resources are deployed. For example, to go from the Spanish Grand Prix to the Canadian one this season, the teams relied on transportation by plane and boat. These operations need to be fast and require huge resources. Currently, the most polluting means of transportation on land is the boat. The container ships used by the teams are considered regular-sized and consume between 25 and 65 tons of fuel per day.

The teams primarily have their base in Europe, which makes travel across the old continent generally done by convoys of trucks, one of the least polluting methods. In addition, the distances to be covered are less than when traveling between continents. Some teams, such as Mercedes, have opted for the use of vegetable fuel for their trucks. Inter-country travel within Europe is among the least polluting. The trucks used by the teams consume between 30 and 40 liters per hour, which is 840 liters in 24 hours. On average, a liter of gasoline weighs 0.75 kg. Thus, in a single day, a cruise ship consumes on average about 30,000 liters more than a truck.

The FIA has adjusted its calendar

In recent years, Middle Eastern countries have secured contracts with the FIA to organize a Grand Prix, leading to confusing adjustments in the calendar, with back-and-forth trips between the American and European continents. For the 2024 season, between the Spanish Grand Prix (June 21-23) and the Singapore Grand Prix (September 20-22), a major Eurasian tour is planned. The two schedule disruptions occur at the beginning and end of the season, with the opening and closing host countries being neighbors.

The calendar issues are expected to persist for several seasons. The financial aspect, although taboo, plays a real role. The wealthiest circuits can secure the dates they prefer. The most expensive Grands Prix for the FIA are the first three and the last three. Among these six races, four will take place in the Gulf.

Formula 1 has made tremendous progress in reducing its carbon footprint. Technologies have been adapted with the introduction of hybrid vehicles nearly 10 years ago. Teams, Pirelli, and even the host circuits have made significant efforts. However, achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 seems to be a utopia. While the consumption of the cars is decreasing, the travel involved cancels out a large part of these efforts. To meet this commitment, substantial efforts still need to be made by the governing bodies.