F1 cannot 'underestimate the challenge of going to 100% sustainable fuel," claims Vasseur
Ahead of the switch to sustainable fuel in the upcoming season, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has stressed that the sport needs to keep in mind how big of a step it will be in terms of technology.
Although there are still eight races to complete this season, teams have already begun their preparing for Formula 1's technical overhaul which will lead to all-new cars in 2026.
The basic architecture of F1's hybrid power was introduced back in 2014. It is a turbocharged 1.6 litre V6 engine, complemented by an exceptionally efficient energy recovery system.
This is split into two parts: the MGU-K (motor-generator unit – kinetic) is similar to the technology used by road-going hybrids, harvesting energy when the car brakes; the MGU-H (motor-generator unit – heat) is powered by the stream of hot exhaust gases, generating electrical energy from the turbocharger when it's not being used to pressurise engine air.
The 2026 regulations simplify F1's power units by doing away with the MGU-H. Its loss is compensated by a much more potent MGU-K. The amount of electrical power that can be generated is rising from 120kW to 350kW, while the amount of energy being recovered under braking will double, to around 8.5 megajoules per lap.
In addition, from 2026, Formula 1 will switch to 100% sustainable fuel, but the expected price increase is far higher than current levels. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has stressed that the sport needs to keep in mind how big of a step it will be to switch to sustainable fuel.
"I think we don’t have to underestimate the challenge of going to 100% sustainable fuel. 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," concluded Vasseur.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies branded the step of switching to sustainable fuel as "a breakthrough in terms of technology."
"Completely different regulations. 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% 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."
