Honda has indicated that sustainability is at the heart of why they are returning to Formula 1 and in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup I have the details. I also have an article on the tech behind Alpine’s first electric rally car and much more!
Sustainable Motorsport News
Honda Places Sustainability at the Core of its 2026 F1 Return
Honda’s renewed F1 program focuses on sustainable fuels, advanced lubricants and tighter engineering integration with Aston Martin. “The incoming power-unit regulations, with their equal split between electric and combustion power and an enforced switch to fully sustainable fuels, closely mirror the technological shift Honda is pursuing across its wider business.”
What Green Credentials Does Racing and Motorsport Have in 2025?
The Sustainable Paddock has surveyed a number of FIA and European-racing series to determine which ones use sustainable fuel. These are the results:
- All but one FIA World Championships switched to sustainable fuel, with Formula 1 joining the list next year.
- Feeder series to Formula 1 have gone sustainable fuel as well! And it’s not only F2 & F3, but also the likes of British F4 (20%), Spanish F4 (25%) and French F4 (100%).
- Both the BTCC and the DTM are powered by 100% sustainable fuel since the start of the 2025 season.
- In addition, the Porsche Supercup started with advanced biofuels in 2021, moving towards higher percentages of synthetic eFuels in subsequent seasons.
Mercedes Uses F1 Engine Expertise to Power £20M UK EV Investment
The UK government and Mercedes-Benz are investing £20 million to build high-power electric drive systems using know-how from the team’s Formula 1 engine division.
“I am delighted to welcome President Steinmeier to the UK as we continue to strengthen the ties between our two great nations,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This investment by Mercedes shows the real benefits of that partnership: cutting-edge innovation, more jobs, and a stronger economy for Britain. By working together with likeminded leaders and countries, this Government is delivering on the public’s priorities and cutting the cost of living for Brits back home.”
World Supercross Announces Landmark Team Deal and Stark Future Electric Debut
I completely missed this but the FIM World Supercross Championship announced last August a groundbreaking moment in supercross history with the signing of the Geneva Agreement and the entry of Stark Future into the 2025 World Supercross Championship. New team and manufacturer Stark Future and their VARG 1.2 are the first electric-powered bikes to battle and tail whip its two and four stroke cousins.
2026 Change.Accelerated.Live Mexico City
For anyone going to the Mexico ePrix, Formula E and BloombergNEf are co-hosting Change.Accelerated.Live on Jan 9. You can register here:
Brand Purpose is Beyond Satire
Unofficial Partner has generated a provocative debate on brand purpose. Is brand purpose in sport over? Should it be asked to solve social problems? Read the debate here.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
Inside Alpine’s New Electric Rally Car
Racecar Engineering takes a look at Alpine’s first all-electric rally car, the A290 Rallye. Designed to meet the FIA eRally5 regulations, and the stringent safety measures that encompasses, the car made its competition debut at Rallye de l’Indre on 8 November. Read more here.
Series News
Formula E Can’t Afford its Next Season to Start in F1’s Shadow Again
Sam Smith of The Race argues that Formula E cannot afford to launch another season at the same time as F1 concludes theirs, especially when there is a dramatic championship showdown at stake.
“Were F1 fans warming themselves up for the Lando Norris-Max Verstappen-Oscar Piastri title fight by tuning in to see Jake Dennis, Pascal Wehrlein, Oliver Rowland et al? A sparky amuse-bouche before the big feast. It feels unlikely.”
Formula E Admits London ExCel Race in Gen4 “Tricky”, Considering Other Venues
Formula E has conceded it may be unable to continue racing at London’s ExCel Centre in the Gen4 era, and has begun assessing alternative venues to maintain a UK round on the calendar.
“London is an incredibly important city in the world, but that particular circuit is kind of governed by the structure of the ExCel [venue]. At Turns 3 and 4, it really narrows down and it is really tight with the bollards there, and there’s structural elements of the ExCel that can’t be changed.”
“Racing for Charity”: Porsche links Formula E Title Defence with a Good Cause
Porsche is entering its seventh ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season as reigning Teams’ and Manufacturers’ World Champion, and will embark on a strong message of social responsibility. Under the motto “Racing for Charity”, the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer will donate €400 for every race lap completed by its two factory-run Porsche 99X Electric cars during the 2025/2026 season. The donations will support three charitable organizations, including Kinderherzen retten e.V., Interplast Germany e.V., and the Ferry Porsche Foundation.
Extreme H: What’s Next for the World’s First Hydrogen World Cup?
Raceteq caught up with Extreme H, the FIA, and winning team Jameel Motorsport to learn about the World Cup and find out more about how it will evolve in the future – including plans to have internal combustion engines compete alongside hydrogen vehicles. Read more here.
Getting to the Track Sustainably
Beyond Aero Releases Plans for Hydrogen Bizjet Factory
French start-up Beyond Aero has laid out plans for the factory in which it intends to manufacture its in-development hybrid-electric business jet. Yesterday, the Toulouse-based company released a feasibility study developed with architectural specialists at Porsche Consulting and Kardham Group. Read more at AIN here.