PETRONAS SECURES FIA APPROVAL FOR MERCEDES’ 2026 FUEL
Petronas has received official approval from the FIA for the sustainable fuel that will power the Mercedes engines in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The certification arrived just in time, on the eve of the season-opening race in Melbourne, allowing Mercedes and its customer teams, McLaren, Alpine and Williams, to compete without delays.
This approval was not a simple formality. Starting in 2026, Formula 1 has introduced a much stricter process to certify sustainable fuels. In previous years, up to 2025, fuel suppliers only had to send a sample to a laboratory approved by the FIA. The sample was tested, and within about 20 days the company would receive confirmation that the fuel met the rules.
The new system is far more detailed. Instead of testing just the final fuel sample, the FIA now requires a full review of the entire production chain. An independent certification body has been appointed to oversee the process. Its role is not only to analyze the finished fuel, but also to inspect how it is made.
Inspectors visit production facilities to check that every stage follows FIA regulations. They also review documentation for all the individual components that make up the fuel, which can number in the dozens.
This includes checking certificates from any external suppliers involved in providing raw materials. If even one required document is missing, the fuel cannot be approved, even if it technically meets performance and chemical standards.
Neither Petronas nor Mercedes has commented publicly on the situation, but it appears that the delay in approval was linked to completing the necessary paperwork and certifications rather than any issue with the fuel itself, as per Motorsport.com
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