F1 Roasted for Sustainability Post as Fans Mock Private Jets, Demand V10s

Formula One's Environmental Goals and Fan Reactions

Formula One has made significant progress in its efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, but the announcement has sparked mixed reactions from fans. While the sport highlights its achievements, many fans have expressed their dissatisfaction, calling for a return of V10 engines and questioning the extensive use of private jets.

F1 recently announced that it has reached halfway toward its goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent. The carbon footprint has decreased from 228,793 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2018 to 168,720 tCO2e at the end of the 2024 season. This reduction is seen as a positive step forward, but it hasn’t been enough to satisfy all fans.

In 2026, F1 will enter a new era of regulations where electric power and an internal combustion unit will be used in equal ratios for the first time. This change is considered a major step in the sport’s journey toward becoming carbon neutral. However, not everyone is convinced that this approach is the right one.

F1 shared its environmental achievements on Instagram, but the post received a lot of backlash from fans who voiced their opinions. Many fans expressed a desire for the return of V10 and V12 engines, which they believe would bring back the excitement and sound that they associate with the sport.

Some of the fan comments included:

• "Decarbonize your supply chain, not your F1 car!"
• "Nobody cares, bring back V10"
• "Fine, bring back V12"
• "The only reason people watch Motorsport is for good racing, not because they care about the environment or the FIA's political agenda"
• "Ok but what about all the private jet flights 😬"
• "Reduce flights, make the calendar better and more linear, like all the races in the US after each other, all the races in Europe after each other, all the races in the middle east after each other and so on. That would reduce the carbon footprint a lot and help with logistics and travel easier"

Despite these concerns, there are signs that the sport may be open to changes that could please fans. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has acknowledged that the current power units are too complicated and expensive to develop. He suggested that the sport could potentially return to using V8 engines by 2029.

Ben Sulayem stated:

"The current engine is so complicated, you have no idea, and it is costly. R&D [research and development] is reaching $200 million, and the engine is costing approximately $1.8m to $2.1m, so if we go with a straight V8, let's see. Many of the manufacturers produce V8s in their cars, so commercially it's correct. How much is it? You drop it. The target is more than 50% in everything. To us, the V8 is happening. With the teams now, I'm very optimistic, happy about it. FOM [Formula One Management] are supportive, the teams are realising it is the right way. We need to do it soon... you need three years, so hopefully by 2029 we have something there, but the fuel is also very expensive, and we have to be very careful with that. Transmissions are very expensive."

This potential shift could be a response to fan demands and a way to balance environmental goals with the excitement that fans expect from the sport. As Formula One continues to evolve, it will need to find a way to meet its sustainability targets while still delivering the thrilling experiences that have made it a global phenomenon.