How much CO2 does an F1 car produce?

An F1 car typically emits roughly 250–350 kg of CO2 during a Grand Prix from fuel burned in the internal-combustion engine—about 4–6 kg per lap—and around 7–10 tonnes per car across a 24-race season when you include race mileage plus practice and qualifying. That direct, on‑track figure is a small fraction—well under 1%—of Formula 1’s overall carbon footprint, most of which comes from logistics and travel.

What that number actually means

The headline figure refers to tailpipe CO2 from fuel combustion during sessions on track. It does not include the much larger “scope 3” emissions from transporting cars, freight, and personnel worldwide, or the upstream (life‑cycle) emissions of producing and delivering fuel.

Tailpipe emissions in today’s hybrid era

Since 2014, F1 cars have used highly efficient 1.6‑litre V6 turbo‑hybrid power units. In race conditions, teams are allowed to use up to 110 kg of fuel. Burning gasoline produces approximately 3.1–3.2 kg of CO2 per kilogram of fuel, so a car that uses 95–110 kg in a Grand Prix will emit about 295–350 kg of CO2 from the exhaust. Track layout, safety cars, temperatures, and driver strategy shift where in that range any given race lands.

Life‑cycle context and sustainable fuels

Since 2022, F1 has used E10 fuel (10% ethanol). Tailpipe CO2 still exits the exhaust, but a portion comes from biogenic carbon in the ethanol. From 2026, the series plans to run on 100% “drop‑in” sustainable fuel (synthesized or advanced bio‑derived), designed to be net‑zero on a well‑to‑wheel basis. If achieved, the fuel’s overall life‑cycle CO2 could be close to neutral even though exhaust CO2 remains similar at the tailpipe.

How the estimate is calculated

The numbers come from standard fuel-use limits and widely accepted CO2 emission factors for gasoline. Here are the core inputs and why they’re used.

• Race fuel use: typically 95–110 kg per Grand Prix (regulatory maximum is 110 kg).
• CO2 per unit of gasoline: about 2.31 kg CO2 per litre, or roughly 3.1–3.2 kg CO2 per kg of fuel (based on gasoline density ~0.74–0.75 kg/litre).
• Race distance: ~305 km (except Monaco), spread over roughly 50–70 laps depending on the circuit.
• Hybrid recovery: energy-recovery systems reduce net fuel burned versus a non-hybrid car but don’t eliminate tailpipe CO2 from the fuel that is used.

Together, these inputs allow a consistent per-race estimate while acknowledging track-to-track variation, safety car periods, and driving style.

Using those inputs, we can express emissions at different scales. These ranges reflect real-world variation by circuit and strategy.

• Per lap: generally 4–6 kg CO2 (traffic, lift-and-coast, and safety cars can lower this).
• Per race: roughly 250–350 kg CO2 from the car’s exhaust, based on 95–110 kg of fuel burned.
• Per season (race mileage only): about 6–8.5 tonnes per car across 24 Grands Prix.
• Per season (including practice/qualifying and sprints): commonly 7–10 tonnes per car, depending on session lengths and running.

These figures are order-of-magnitude guides. The exact number for any given weekend depends on the circuit’s fuel intensity (high at tracks like Monza or Jeddah, lower at Monaco), weather, and race interruptions.

How this compares with F1’s total carbon footprint

On‑track fuel emissions from F1 cars are a very small slice of the sport’s overall climate impact. F1’s baseline sustainability analysis (pre-pandemic) attributed the vast majority of emissions to logistics and travel, with cars on track accounting for less than 1% of the total.

• Logistics (air/sea/road freight) make up the largest share of emissions.
• Personnel travel (teams, series, media) is another major contributor.
• Event operations and facilities also add meaningful portions.
• Cars running on track: typically cited at around 0.7% of the series total in past audits.

This is why F1’s net‑zero by 2030 plan focuses heavily on freight efficiencies, sustainable aviation fuels, smarter calendar sequencing, and renewable power for events and facilities, alongside the push for sustainable fuels in the cars.

What will change from 2026

F1’s 2026 power unit rules retain the 1.6‑litre V6 but shift to a roughly 50/50 split in power between the internal-combustion engine and the hybrid system, remove the MGU‑H, and mandate 100% sustainable drop‑in fuel. Tailpipe CO2 emissions per litre burned will be similar, but the fuel’s carbon will be sourced in a way intended to make its full life‑cycle close to net‑zero. If delivered as designed, that would dramatically reduce the climate impact of on‑track running even as exhaust gases remain CO2‑rich.

Caveats and variability to keep in mind

Real-world race weekends rarely match a neat average. Several factors can swing emissions up or down.

• Safety cars/virtual safety cars lower fuel burn and CO2 per race.
• Hotter conditions can increase fuel consumption; cooler, high‑altitude events can change engine efficiency.
• Tracks with long flat‑out sections lead to higher per‑lap fuel burn.
• Driver strategy (lift-and-coast, engine modes) materially affects consumption.

Because of these dynamics, credible estimates are best expressed as ranges rather than single-point figures.

Summary

An F1 car typically produces around 250–350 kg of tailpipe CO2 during a Grand Prix—about 4–6 kg per lap—and roughly 7–10 tonnes per car across a full modern season including practice and qualifying. While that’s tangible at the car level, on‑track fuel use is a tiny fraction of F1’s total emissions, which are dominated by global logistics and travel. The 2026 shift to 100% sustainable drop‑in fuel aims to slash life‑cycle emissions from racing itself, with broader net‑zero goals targeting the bigger sources off track.