- F1 first launched its sustainability strategy in 2019, which includes achieving net zero carbon by 2030
- F1 has reduced its carbon footprint by 13% since 2018
- All F1 teams will have to power their cars with 100% advanced sustainable fuels by 2026
Formula One (F1) has a global fanbase of more than 750 million, as of 2024, a 5.7% increase since 2021, making it the most-popular yearly sporting series in the world.
The international racing event sees the world’s biggest car manufacturers compete for the FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Championship Trophy. These include Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin, Red Bull and Alfa Romeo.
But with cars reaching top speeds of around 233mph, it begs the question: How sustainable is the sport?
Well, this is what we’re here to uncover below.
What is F1’s sustainability strategy?
F1 first launched its sustainability strategy in 2019, which set out the following targets:
- To achieve net zero carbon by 2030
- To leave a legacy of positive change wherever it races
- To build a more diverse and inclusive sport
To achieve net zero carbon by 2030, F1 committed to an absolute carbon emission cut of at least 50% by this time versus 2018. The sport is prioritising cutting emissions first by targeting travel, logistics and energy use at factories and events before investing in credible offsetting against emissions beyond its control.
The target was set, according to the company, using science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its definition of net zero emissions, and follows guidance set by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Earlier in 2025, F1 released its annual impact report detailing the sustainability progress it has made across all three ESG pillars since 2018.
According to the report, F1 has reduced its carbon footprint by 13% since 2018, from 256,551tCO2e to 223,031TCO2e. This is largely due to F1’s holistic approach to sustainability that first started in 2017 when the championship was sold to Liberty Media.
Forbes reported in April 2024 that at an exclusive roundtable ahead of the Montreal Grand Prix, it was noted that sustainability was a “huge priority” for Liberty Media.
This particular strategy focused on the impact of the 2022 F1 season, all the way back to its championship 2018 baseline.
A change it made straight away was switching to renewable electricity in its offices and reduced the amount of staff traveling to events, relying more on remote working. IT also reduced freight emissions by 32% compared to 2019.
Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships use a 55% sustainable fuel to power their cars and that 75% of F1 promoters “powered aspects of their events using renewable energy sources”.
However, according to the most-current report, in order for the F1 to meet its goal of 50% net zero goal by 2030, it still needs to cut 37% of its greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the largest carbon contributor to F1?
Despite popular belief, the sport’s largest contributor to its carbon footprint is actually its travel and logistics – rather than its cars.
It has done wonders to reduce its freight usage and has adopted a smart block calendar scheduling ethos, but it still travels across the world each season, generating a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
This is in addition to the millions of fans travelling to watch race weekends.
It’s not to say its cars don’t contribute to the sports carbon footprint, as they definitely burn large amounts of fossil fuels every weekend. And its cars are its biggest investment and responsibility.
What steps is F1 taking next on sustainability?
F1’s commitment to becoming net zero carbon by 2030 is aligned with the world’s need to keep global average temperature rise below 1.5C. For context, this means the sport plans to continue making significant investments to achieve this through technological updates and any new ways of working beyond that.
The sport said that key projects in the coming years include:
- The next generation of F1 operations. After the first transition to more remote operations is successful, the second phase will continue to streamline what must travel to each race and how the sport can approach that differently using sea freight and local sourcing.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Developments here will have a huge impact in tackling the carbon footprint left behind by necessary travel and logistics.
- Renewable energy at promoter sites. F1’s promoters are well on their way, but there is more to do, including scaling up and expanding existing trials. More than 75% of promoters used renewable energy sources to power aspects of their Grand Prix in 2023, ranging from trial activations to the entire event, compared to 50% in 2022.
Specific examples highlighted in F1’s latest report are:
- The Australian Grand Prix reduced relevant emissions by more than 90% in the pit lane, paddock and broadcast compound through a next-generation energy pilot. This trial is expanding in 2024 and beyond.
- The solar farm at the Bahrain International Circuit produced 5.28MW of clean energy between the 2022 and 2023 Grands Prix – enough renewable energy to cover all the circuit usage for F1 with significant capacity to spare.
- The British Grand Prix was fully powered by green energy alternatives. This included 2,746 solar panels and the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel in all temporary generators.
Sustainable aviation and how it works
As we’ve mentioned above, a huge part of F1’s sustainability goals is that all F1 teams will have to power their cars with 100% advanced sustainable fuels by 2026.
Right now, fuel emissions from the cars on track make up less than 1% of the sport’s overall carbon footprint, but sustainable fuel development is one of the sport’s biggest opportunities to improve its carbon footprint, as well as the environment and wider society.
The sport has confirmed the 100% sustainable fuel initiative will be carbon neutral, and will be created from a combination of non-food bio sources, genuine waste sources, or carbon extracted from the air.
Has F1 managed to reduce its carbon footprint?
Yes they have. In 2022, the sport’s carbon footprint was reduced by 13% compared to 2018. While it still needs to achieve the remaining 37% reduction to meet its 50%, it’s a strong step in the right direction.
There is increasing carbon awareness across the wider sport and its fanbase, the report said, and improving data quality and reporting commitments mean F1 can show what carbon action looks like in practice.
Right now, F1 receives its data around six months into the following calendar year.
The report also said that in order to meet net zero by 2030, significant work is involved, and further further change is needed. It also claimed the sport’s carbon footprint is the most difficult aspect it’s trying to tackle.
What does the future look like with F1?
F1 confirmed that during the next phase of its sustainability journey, which launches as of 2026, it plans to offset any “unavoidable emissions”.
This will be achieved by utilising credible programs certified by international standards and tracked in line with the latest best practice guidance.
The F1 championship is already utilising biofuels, like hydrotreated vegetable oil, to improve its renewable energy sources.
For the first time, F1 used a 40% sustainable fuel in its safety and medical cars at the latest Miami GP, which the company said is the “next step” to put that fuel into the F1 car. F1 plans to use 100% sustainable fuel for its cars by 2026.
“Sustainability is one of the most important factors to us, not only as a sport, but as a business,” Stefano Domenicali, president & CEO, Formula 1 said.
“It is no longer enough for us to simply deliver great action and wheel-to-wheel racing on the track, we need to ensure we are doing so in a sustainable way, so our sport can thrive long into the future.”
Right now, there are no plans for F1 to be fully electric in the foreseeable future. Instead, as we’ve already mentioned, it will focus on sustainable fuels, as well as hybrid technology, with a goal of becoming carbon neutral.
Summary
- The international racing event sees the world’s biggest car manufacturers compete for the FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Championship Trophy. These include Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin, Red Bull and Alfa Romeo.
- A change it made straight away was switching to renewable electricity in its offices and reduced the amount of staff traveling to events, relying more on remote working. IT also reduced freight emissions by 32% compared to 2019.
- Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships use a 55% sustainable fuel to power their cars and that 75% of F1 promoters “powered aspects of their events using renewable energy sources”.
- Despite popular belief, the sport’s largest contributor to its carbon footprint is actually its travel and logistics – rather than its cars.
- F1’s commitment to becoming net zero carbon by 2030 is aligned with the world’s need to keep global average temperature rise below 1.5C
- A huge part of F1’s sustainability goals is that all F1 teams will have to power their cars with 100% advanced sustainable fuels by 2026.
- Right now, fuel emissions from the cars on track make up less than 1% of the sport’s overall carbon footprint.
