The sustainable fuel destined for the four teams using Mercedes engines—including the works Mercedes team, McLaren, Alpine, and Williams—has been officially certified by the International Motorsport Federation (FIA). The certification was completed just in time for the 2026 season opener in Australia, following a complex and highly detailed bureaucratic procedure.
Petronas has secured the FIA approval for the sustainable fuel that will power the Mercedes power units. The Malaysian company’s Formula 1 division obtained the necessary certification in extremis, ensuring that all four teams could start the 2026 championship without issues.
The process was finalized on the eve of the Melbourne Grand Prix weekend. The new homologation procedure for sustainable fuels is far more rigorous than the protocol used for conventional fuels up until last season.
From simple lab checks to a full production audit
Until 2025, fuel approval was relatively straightforward. Samples were sent to FIA-approved laboratories and results were returned within approximately twenty days. Starting this season, the procedure has become significantly more elaborate. Manufacturers began working well in advance to avoid delays, but any setbacks risk longer approval times. The FIA has now delegated certification to an external organization tasked not only with analyzing the final fuel product but also with verifying the complete production process.
From 2026 onwards, the entire supply chain is subject to inspection. Personnel from the certification body visit production facilities in person to ensure that every stage complies with FIA regulations. This includes verifying dozens of individual component certifications, including those from any suppliers involved in the supply chain. Even a single missing certification prevents the fuel from being homologated, regardless of whether the product meets technical specifications.
Neither Petronas nor Mercedes have issued comments on the situation. However, the delay in homologation appears to have been caused by the need to secure all essential certifications to complete the procedure successfully.
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