What is Formula 1?
Formula 1 is the highest-ranking formula racing series organized by the FIA. Formula-1-cars are the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world. Especially in the corners the cars reaches breathtaking speeds. The top speed record on a straight 372.5km/h (231.4mph). But also in the corners the drivers reaches speeds from over 300km/h. While the slowest corners is driven with a speed of 50km/h the fastest corner is driven with a speed of 310km/h.
Slowest corner in Formula 1 (Hairspin in Monaco)
The fuel of Formula 1 back in 1950
In Formula 1 petrol is indispensable. It's the elixir of life for the engines of the cars. Back in 1950 the first Formula 1 race has taken place. Back in this time there were many thermal problems with the engine so they couldn't use conventional petrol. Until 1957 the chemist could mix the fuel without regulations. For example Mercedes mixed their fuel with the following components:
45% benzene, 25% methyl alcohol, 23% aviation fuel, 3% acetone und 2% nitrobenzene. The last 2% of the mixture are a secret. The problem of these fuel mixtures was that they were extremely aggressive and bad for the environment. There is no exact number how high the Co2 emissions were. So for the FIA was clear, that they need to change that.
The fuel of Formula 1 today
Over the years there came more and more regulations for the fuel to become more climate neutral. Nowadays the mixture of Mercedes fuel contains 10% sustainable ethanol. The official regulations are that the cars must use conventional fuel (but with more than 100 octane) and the fuel must contain 5,75% biomass. But Formula 1 wants to become even more friendly for the environment.
The fuel of Formula 1 in the next 100 years
Engines only powered with electric power will not be the future of Formula 1 because there is also Formula E which already use fully electrical cars. So they will always use combustion engines but they want to change the fuel more. So the plan is to use a 100% biomass fuel.
How bad is Formula 1 really?
There is no discussion. Fuel is bad for the environment. But please keep the following numbers always in mind when you talk about how bad Formula 1 is:
One Soccer World cup produces more than 2 million tons CO2-emissions. That's ten times more than a Formula 1 season produce. But it's also important to think about that not the cars are the problem. Formula 1 travels around the world each year. Almost every week there is a race all over the world. So traveling is the badest impact on our environment and this will also in the future be a problem.
Calculation - 1. step
When burning one kilo of petrol, 40,000 kJ are released. 1 liter of petrol weighs about 0.75 kilograms. So you need about 1.3 liters of petrol for 1 kilogram. For a complete Formula 1 season, more than 1 million liters of petrol are consumed every year. This corresponds to approx. 769,230.77 kilograms of petrol. Multiplied by 40,000 kJ per kilo, 30,769,230,800 kJ are released by burning fuel in one season.
Calculation - 2. step
1 kJ = 0,239 kcal
30'769'230'800 kJ = 7'353'846'161.2 kcal
A 30-year-old man (180cm tall and 85kg heavy) who works in an office has an average calorie consumption of 2,700 kcal.
7'353'846'161.2 kcal = 2'723’646 kcal
2'700 kcal
Conclusion from the calculation
The kJ released annually in a Formula 1 season, converted into kcal, cover approx. 2,723,646 times the daily calorie requirement of a 30-year-old man (180cm tall and 85kg heavy).
Conclusion of the topic
Formula 1 will always be powered by engines which needs fuel. So the aim is to make the fuel as climate neutral as possible. The focus is that the fuel does not produce any Co2-emissions
Team: Savina Armuzzi
Sources Showcase.pdf (19.30 kb)