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KUALA LUMPUR – Formula One (F1) may continue to evolve its engines, batteries and power units, but Toto Wolff believes one element is certain to remain part of the sport’s future - sustainable fuel.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronasteam principal and chief executive officer said the global automotive industry is likely to pursue multiple pathways in the years ahead, including electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids and combustion engines.
But regardless of which technology dominates, he believes sustainable fuel will continue to play a role.
“Energy transition is happening, whether you like EVs, hybrids or whether combustion cars are still going to have a larger share in the future. Sustainable fuel is the way forward,” Wolff said during a media session in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
His comments come as Mercedes and Petronas compete under Formula One’s new 2026 regulations, with Petronas’ Advanced Sustainable Fuel powering the Mercedes power unit.
Wolff said the importance of sustainable fuel extends well beyond the current regulations.
While discussions continue over future engine concepts, including a possible return to V8 engines, smaller batteries and lighter power units, he believes sustainable fuel will remain a constant.
“In Formula One, we are talking about new engine regulations and V8s in the future, and a smaller battery or a smaller turbo. Let’s reduce the weight.
“The sustainable fuel is out of question. That’s continuing forever,” he said.
For Mercedes, the technology is part of a broader technical partnership with Petronas, which has worked alongside the team on fuel and powertrain development since Mercedes returned to Formula One in 2010.
Wolff described Petronas, Mercedes’ chassis operation and Mercedes’ engine operation as the team's three key providers of hardware and intellectual property.
“One cannot exist without the other,” he said.
He also praised the work behind the development of the sustainable fuel, describing the effort by both organisations as “literally tremendous”.
“This is the first time I can talk about it today. We knew the sustainable fuel component was going to make the winning difference this year.
“And this is because we pushed it all so hard, the two organisations, to make it so successful. One hundred per cent sustainable and the most powerful fuel-and-engine combination ever done in the world,” he said.
