Decarbonization has become increasingly urgent, and big sporting events are beginning to make their own adjustments. Following the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, Formula 1 has introduced a set of design and technical regulations for the 2026 Grand Prix season. 

New Power Unit

Formula 1 first announced its 2030 net-zero emissions target in 2019. In their 2025 Sustainability Update, the event claimed a 26% reduction in total carbon emissions by the end of 2024 compared to 2018 levels, mainly driven by the shift to renewable energy sources.

Since 2014, Formula 1 has been utilizing complex hybrid power units comprising an internal combustion engine and an Energy Recovery System (ERS) to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.  The ERS, which harvests wasted energy to recharge battery, originally has two key components: the Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K), which recovers energy during braking, and the Motor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H), which extracts energy from exhaust gases.

This power unit architecture shifts under the 2026 regulation. The MGU-H has been removed, placing a greater emphasis on an optimized MGU-K. This change aims to further reduce the sport’s reliance on fuel combustion. While previous power units derived only about 20% of their output from the electrical system, the 2026 unit achieves a near 50/50 split between the internal combustion engine and electric power.

Sustainable Fuel Options & Other Efforts

The FIA introduced changes to the power unit as part of Formula 1’s push toward improved sustainability, with direct implications for fuel consumption. Under the previous regulations, 100 kilograms of fuel flowed through the engine per hour. This number has been reduced to 75 kilograms per hour in the new power unit, due to a greater reliance on electrical energy.

Alongside the introduction of the new power unit, all cars have also begun using sustainable fuel options derived from feedstocks, carbon capture, municipal waste, and non-food biomass. 

The fuel is designed to achieve at least 65% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without compromising on-track performance, as demonstrated in the 2025 Formula 2 and Formula 3 seasons.

Furthermore, the sport’s sustainability efforts extend beyond the track to its core infrastructure. One example is the Austrian Grand Prix, where solar panels and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) are utilized to power the paddock, pit buildings, and broadcast center.

New Technologies in Formula 1 Races

The introduction of these new technologies is already influencing race dynamics in the 2026 season. While the 2026 power unit design intends to improve environmental sustainability through its greater reliance on electric power, it has also made variations in car speed more difficult to predict.

The most significant, and potentially dangerous, impact was observed during the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix when Oliver Bearman attempted to overtake Franco Colapinto. As Bearman activated Boost mode, Colapinto’s car decelerated due to an inactive MGU-K. The resulting speed differential led to a 50G impact as Bearman hit the barrier to avoid collision.

This unpredictability may pose increased risks to driver safety, leading to urgent calls to re-evaluate the current regulations. Ultimately, efforts to improve sustainability must not come at the expense of safety.

Editor:Kresentia Madina & Nazalea Kusuma

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