Mercedes F1 team has announced its commitment to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel, becoming the first global sports team to do so, as part of our drive to further reduce our CO2 emissions and our ambition to become SBTi-verified Net Zero by 2030.

Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. As a Formula One team racing on multiple continents, we have worked tirelessly to understand the environmental impact that we have and the role that we can play in driving change. As Formula One operates at the forefront of automotive technology, we have a responsibility to ensure we are at the cutting-edge of innovation in sustainable technologies.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is renewable or waste-derived aviation fuel, an emerging technology recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation to play a major role in reducing future international aviation emissions1. With aviation accounting for over a quarter of our entire projected carbon footprint, our multi-million-dollar investment in SAF will significantly improve our overall environmental impact, with the industry-leading technology further assisting our journey towards Net Zero.

SAF will become a significant component of our team's sustainability strategy, reflecting our desire to drive the change within Formula One for more sustainable racing. Our purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel will be used for our indirect Scope 3 aviation emissions, which are excluded from the Formula One cost cap, such as flights to Grand Prix locations and other business air travel.

By purchasing SAF claims, we will be able to achieve close to 50% reduction in our race team personnel air travel footprint and will continue to offset our remaining aviation carbon emissions with Gold Standard offsets whilst we work with the industry to scale SAF availability.

While current SAF production and availability are limited, the opportunity is immense. We hope that using our powerful global platform to support the development and growth of the SAF market will showcase SAF's potential and prove to other industries how great an impact it can have. Through our commitment, we hope to encourage others to do the same, driving further investment in SAF production.

"Sustainable Aviation Fuel has the potential to transform the way we travel and the impact that we have on the environment," said Toto Wolff. This is a topic that I think about a great deal personally as well as professionally. I fly a lot; the team flies a lot. If we must fly, then we need to find a better way to do so and SAF is the best solution available to the aviation industry right now. We aim to be on the cutting edge of change, using our global motorsport platform as a model for a more sustainable and diversified future."

"Our aim is to embed sustainability in every decision we make and action we take," added Alice Ashpitel, Sustainability & Environmental Manager at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. We believe that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can change the way that sports and businesses more generally, as some of the biggest users of aviation, can exert a positive influence on the outside world. We hope to play a leading role in showcasing what's possible with SAF and prove to other industries what can be achieved."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by MossMan, 20/07/2022 16:53

"@Bill Hopgood - if it's "green" hydrogen then it is 100% from renewable energy. Yes, there are losses, but it's the best way to get the energy-dense liquid fuel required for applications such as aviation - where batteries are currently too heavy to be practical. SAF means higher losses but this can be used to fill existing aircraft - while still being fully "green". And by the way, petroleum products have massive losses as well - besides the poor efficiency of the engine itself, a fuel refinery requires a small power station to run and more cobalt is used to produce road fuel than goes into battery production.

@Italian Job - it depends a lot on the cars in question... replace a thrifty small car with relatively modern injection, catalytic converter etc. for an over-complex, long-range, expensive EV? Maybe not yet. Replace a brand new diesel SUV with an equally expensive EV SUV - yes, dump that oil-burning monster ASAP."

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2. Posted by Italian Job, 19/07/2022 20:26

"Slightly off the topic, but not a lot:
Which is better, overall, for the "environment" (and probably the buyer's pocket)
Buy a new, super, duper, car every one or two years or
Buy a new car and keep it for several years, ignoring the pressure to change and spend money????"

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3. Posted by BillH, 19/07/2022 19:34

"I wonder how much energy is used in creating the SAF?

I mean, is it like getting 75% electricity of the 100% used to make "green" hydrogen?"

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Mercedes is first global sports team to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel

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