The fully sustainable fuel era began with Formula 1’s 2026 engine regulations. The 2026 power units were required to run on fully sustainable fuel, marking a major change in the championship’s approach to combustion fuels.
The regulations retained the familiar 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 internal-combustion engine, but significantly changed the hybrid system. The MGU-H, which recovered energy from exhaust heat, was removed, while the MGU-K’s output rose from 120 kW to 350 kW. The result was a much larger electrical contribution to total power.
The fuel change was designed to reduce reliance on fossil-derived petrol while keeping high-performance combustion technology relevant. Formula 1’s sustainable fuel rules use a fuel composition defined by regulation rather than simply permitting conventional gasoline with a small renewable component.
This is sometimes confused with the 2014 hybrid era, when Formula 1 introduced turbocharged V6 engines and energy recovery. That earlier change was primarily about hybrid power and efficiency; the fully sustainable-fuel requirement belongs to the 2026 regulations.