Fuel Prices Also Hit F1: Discover the Exorbitant Cost Per Liter!

The escalating fuel prices impacting everyday motorists have hit Formula 1 hard. With the introduction of new power units and chassis in 2026 came Advanced Sustainable Fuels, which can cost up to 500 euros per liter. Considering an F1 car's fuel tank capacity is around 100 liters, filling a single car's tank could cost approximately... 25,000 euros per race.

This price surge reflects the global climate, marked by geopolitical crises and rising transportation costs. The new fuels, free of fossil components, are produced from captured carbon, urban waste, or non-food biomass. These are 'drop-in' fuels, designed to replace fossil fuels without requiring engine modifications.

Behind these costs lies an intense technological race, which the official F1 website describes as the "brutal race to develop fuels." This competition, geopolitical crises permitting, could benefit the entire world. Audi, for instance, in partnership with BP, evaluated 70 components, developed 400 samples, and tested 200 mixtures in its new power unit, delivering 240,000 liters of test fuel to its Neuburg factory.

Luc Jolly, BP's Motorsport Fluids Manager, explained to F1.com that they had to almost start from scratch, as the fossil components used in the past were no longer available. "The competition in F1 is absolutely brutal," he stated, emphasizing that success hinges on the speed of development.

The major challenge lies in finding the right balance between performance and reliability. According to Jolly, in the first year of implementation, "there's still a lot of performance to be found."

Even drivers, like Gabriel Bortoleto, feel the impact of this constant evolution. "It's funny, because I grew up driving, driving, driving, and you keep driving and perfecting your driving techniques, but when you get to F1, it's a completely different world. It's all about innovation, bringing improvements to the car, to the engine, to the fuel, to every component of the car," the driver shared.

The battle of costs and development is being fought by all teams, from Mercedes to McLaren. Ferrari, in partnership with Shell, developed its V-Power Race Fuel for the SF-26 over four years. This process involved more than two million simulations, 110 specialists, and over 38,000 hours of technical work annually.

Formula 1 is preparing for a significant regulatory change from 2027, with a focus on fuels and the balance between thermal and electrical power in the cars. Shell has already indicated that its certified fuel allows for a minimum 65% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions compared to the fossil reference, according to European criteria.

The most substantial change is slated for next year, when fuel flow regulations will be altered. This modification won't simply involve an increase in injected fuel; it will entail a complete overhaul of how fuel interacts and operates within the engine, aiming to rebalance power output. There's an expectation that by then, the costs associated with this technology will have decreased.