14/09/2025 12:55
Laurent Mekies and Fred Vasseur have shared their thoughts on F1
moving to 100 percent sustainable fuels next season, when the
championship overhauls its power unit regulations for the first
time since 2014. The Red Bull and Ferrari team principals were in
agreement over the scale of the "incredible challenge" that awaits,
as F1 looks to further achieve its goal of reaching carbon net zero
by 2030. However, despite the positive steps being taken by the
series, it will prove a difficult hurdle for manufacturers to
overcome, and costs are expected to rise as well. Formula 2 and
Formula 3 have been used successfully as a proving ground, with the
junior championships moving from a 55 percent sustainable blend in
2023 to 100 percent bio-sourced fuel this year. When asked how much
of a headache the rising costs would be for teams, and what needed
to be done to combat it, Mekies highlighted the broader impact for
teams. "Completely different regulations," the Red Bull boss told
media, including RacingNews365 . "It's going to be a breakthrough
in terms of technology. That's what matters right now. "It's a
breakthrough because it's the first time the sport will run on 100
percent sustainable fuel. It's going to be an incredible challenge
for all the fuel manufacturers, all the PU manufacturers, to
extract as much performance as possible from that sustainable fuel.
"There will be a cost layer at this stage or another, but at the
moment it's coming well after the considerations about getting a
fuel that meets these very high requirements, and getting maximum
performance out of it." 'We must not underestimate the benefit of
sustainable fuel' - Vasseur A meeting between the FIA and F1's fuel
suppliers was scheduled to discuss the problem of rising costs and
to investigate whether any steps can be taken for 2027. Vasseur
explained that the meeting was more slanted towards addressing the
"mid-term and long-term" to "keep things under control." However,
the Frenchman was keen to stress how important the development is
for Formula 1. "I think we don't have to underestimate the
challenge of going to 100 percent sustainable fuel," he said. "It's
a huge step forward for F1 and a new direction we are taking.
"Honestly, the fuel is not yet frozen, which means it's difficult
to know the exact cost for next year. For sure, it's a bit more
than the current season. "But this meeting is more for the mid-term
and long-term – to try to see how we can adapt the regulation in
the future to keep things under control. "But we must not
underestimate the benefit of sustainable fuel. Yes, it has a cost –
but it's a huge step forward for F1."
