The Canadian Grand Prix has been rescheduled to earlier in May for 2026 as part of Formula 1’s switch to a more geography-based calendar and I have the details this week. I also have an article that looks at Formula 1’s influence in the location of COP29, a new podcast from Hansen Motorsport and a massive technical step forward for Formula E. All this and more in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup.
Sustainable Motorsport News
In The Street Circuit Hosting A Climate Summit, Olivia Hicks of Formula Flash looks at the contradictory message sent by having Baku, Azerbaijan hosting the COP29 summit.
Simon Maghakyan, a political scientist specializing in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, wrote in TIME that 20 Formula 1 cars speeding down Neftchilar Avenue helped Azerbaijan become short-listed for COP29 host. “The key to its success may well be how it has courted some of the world’s elites in ways that have put Azerbaijan in the spotlight in recent years. This long-term charm offensive, which serves to deflect criticism of Aliyev’s government and rebrand Azerbaijan as a vibrant destination, includes flying in celebrities and hosting international events like Formula 1.”
Read her full article here.
Mercedes F1 have announced the results of their HVO100 Biofuel coverage across the 2024 European season.
The team is proud that we have successfully powered our race and marketing trucks and generators for the 2024 European Season on HVO100, a second-generation biofuel. In conjunction with our Title and Technical Partner PETRONAS, and our logistics partners, we achieved 98% biofuel coverage and saved more than 500 tonnes of CO2e through the use of the sustainable fuel in our trucks and generators.
Read the full story here and download their latest sustainability report here.
Sustainable Motorsport Tech
Ride along as rallycross champions and team-mates Timmy and Kevin Hansen travel the motorsport world, checking in with each other every week.
In the inaugural episode of the ‘Hansen Brothers Podcast’, Timmy and Kevin discuss their 2024 rallycross experience, focusing on the season finale in Istanbul and the dynamics of their team. The brothers also reflect on the implications of the ‘Battle of Technologies’ format for the future of World Rallycross and the challenges faced with electric versus internal combustion supercars.
You can watch the first episode above.
Julien Jehanne, Director of Ligier Automotive’s Amilly site, which specializes in concept cars and special vehicles, attended the PMW Expo in Cologne on November 13-14. Together with Lionel Martin from Bosch Engineering, he presented the Ligier JS2 RH2, Ligier’s first hydrogen-powered vehicle and a product of its strategic partnership with Bosch Engineering. The event also provided a platform to showcase Ligier Automotive’s latest projects, particularly in the field of liquid hydrogen.
This participation underscores Ligier Automotive’s commitment to hydrogen as a cornerstone of its future strategy. By developing cutting-edge solutions, the company is positioning itself as a key player in motorsport’s energy transition.
Find out more at the Ligier website: https://ligierautomotive.com/en/
RACER reports that Formula E driver Lucas di Grassi feels that the adoption of four-wheel drive is the series biggest step so far.
“It will change massively during the races. Why we wasted Attack mode last season, why we tried to get rid of it, was because you could not put the power down,” di Grassi explained. “You could not put 350kW with the tires we had last year so you didn’t really gain a lot of performance. So you just tried to get Attack Mode out of the way so you don’t lose places and then you would be fighting for the energy in the pack race.”
Read the complete article at RACER here.
Revolution Race Cars are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of their manufacturing process, creating products through economically sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. Their website has some great examples of how the accomplish this. You can read about them here.
Series News
Finally accepting the inevitable, the organizers of the Canadian Grand Prix have agreed to move their race to the third or fourth weekend of May each year starting in 2026 in the interests of rationalizing the calendar.
The move will allow the European leg of the season to be consolidated into one consecutive period over the European summer months and is planned to remove an additional transatlantic crossing by the Formula 1 community each year, with significant associated carbon reductions.
Autosport has more details.
The World Rally Championship has announced that it will drop hybrid units from Rally1 cars in 2025. The decision was ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Friday following an e-vote and will result in Rally1 cars being powered entirely by internal combustion engines next year.
More details can be found here.
Getting to the Track Sustainably
- Tesla Semi “exceeds efficiency expectations” in DHL California trials (Freight Carbon Zero)
- VW launches $5.8bn tie-up with Tesla rival Rivian (BBC)
- Volvo outlines multi-technology strategy for supporting operators at Decarbonisation Summit (Freight Carbon Zero)
- Study: EV battery prices to drop by 50% by 2026 (Green Car Reports)
- Stellantis details 690-mile range for STLA Frame platform (Green Car Reports)
- NASA Funds New Studies to Shape the Future of Hydrogen-Powered Sustainable Aircraft (HYSKY)
- SailGP and DP World deliver three-year global logistics deal (SIG)
- Airlines And Passengers Move To Reduce Their Global Footprints (Forbes)
- Hydrogen Combustion Test To Start on PW127XT Turboprop Engine (AIN)
- Hydroplane Secures Additional Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Propulsion Development (HYSKY)
- Canada Funds Electric and Hydrogen Propulsion Sustainability Initiative (HYSKY)
- This Electric Aircraft-Maker Just Landed a $318 Million Investment (Inc.)
- Solar Generates 25% of Farnborough’s Electric Power (AIN)
- Stakeholders Across Maritime Value Chain Align to Accelerate Adoption of Zero-Emission Fuels by 2030 for a Sustainable Shipping Future (RMI)
- Solstad introduces renewable diesel to offshore operations (Biofuels News)
- Feedstock availability and aviation demand challenge biofuel adoption in shipping (Biofuels News)
- How Amazon and IKEA are pushing the ocean shipping industry to meet net-zero emission goals (Fast Company)
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
