MotoGP and F1 move to non-fossil fuels: what it means for road cars

Motorsport is betting on biofuels and e-fuels to cut carbon. MotoGP plans to run entirely on non-fossil fuels by 2027, using carbon-14 testing to verify compliance. Formula 1 will introduce synthetic fuels from 2026, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions in its engines. These fuels are expensive and still release CO2 when burned, but they could help reduce emissions from the existing global car fleet, which will mostly rely on liquid fuels for decades. The push is about testing fuel tech at scale. Racing engines are efficient, and the lessons could trickle down to everyday vehicles. Critics note that these fuels are not pollution-free, but they do cut new fossil carbon. With two major championships moving away from crude oil, the shift is a real experiment in low-carbon fuel adoption.