Inside Qatar Airways & F1’s SAF Investment Partnership
The world’s most popular motorsports competition, Formula 1, engages hundreds of thousands of fans during a race weekend.
The global nature of the races, however, mean that the race series’ flight emissions are rather high.
F1 is working to become more sustainable, and when it comes to flights this includes reducing its need for air freight, optimising its race calendar to prevent excess long haul flights and investing in SAF to make those necessary flights as sustainable as possible.
Formula 1 is pushing for innovation and development in SAF, and its most recent programme has been developed in partnership with Qatar Airways.
What is SAF?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is considered by many a crucial innovation in the aviation industry's efforts to reduce its environmental impact.
SAF is a biofuel used to power aircraft that has similar properties to conventional jet fuel but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint. Typically produced from sustainable feedstocks such as waste oils, agricultural residues, or algae, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.
The adoption of SAF has been gaining momentum in recent years, driven by increasing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures.
However, challenges remain, including limited production capacity and higher costs compared to conventional jet fuels.
Despite these hurdles, the aviation industry sees SAF as a key component in its strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
F1 and Qatar Airways: Partnering for decarbonisation
The collaboration between Formula 1 and Qatar Airways will see F1 become the inaugural member of Qatar Airways' SAF programme, representing a significant milestone in the sport's sustainability journey as well as a new phase in the airline's sustainability efforts.
“Today’s investment is the next step in our alternative fuels strategy which is central to delivering our Net Zero 2030 target,” shares Ellen Jones, Head of ESG, Formula 1.
“Through collaboration with our Teams, the FIA and our partners, we are delivering on our promises to drive down the sports’ carbon emissions and drive forward technologies that can have an impact beyond Formula 1. This is the latest example of how stakeholders across the sport are aligned with our vision for a more sustainable F1, which we are thrilled to see.”
How does SAF fit into Formula 1’s sustainability strategy?
Formula 1's commitment to SAF is part of a broader strategy to reduce its environmental impact.
The combined investment in SAF programmes for 2024, including the existing partnership with DHL, is expected to reduce related emissions by more than 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. This represents an approximate 19% reduction in related emissions compared to traditional aviation fuel for the air freight charter programme operated by Formula 1 across the flyaway events of the 2024 season.
These efforts are crucial in keeping F1 on track to meet its 2030 sustainability goals, which require at least a 50% reduction in emissions compared to the 2018 baseline.
The sport's shift towards alternative fuels extends beyond air travel, with plans for F1 cars to use 100% advanced sustainable fuel from 2026, and F2 and F3 reaching this standard by next season.
Qatar Airways' SAF initiatives
Qatar Airways is working to reduce its environmental impact, and is committed to the use of 10% SAF by 2030.
In 2024 the Qatar Airways Group completed an additional purchase of SAF for use in its fleet, resulting in a reduction of 19,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
The new SAF programme, of which Formula 1 is the inaugural member, is a major milestone for Qatar Airways. It enables partners like F1 to leverage the benefits of SAF for the first time and puts the airline and its stakeholders on the path to advance the use of SAF at a commercial scale.
As one of the world's leading airlines, Qatar Airways' efforts in this area could have a significant impact on the aviation industry's overall sustainability efforts.
Qatar Airways' Sustainability Strategy.
What does this partnership mean for the future of SAF?
The collaboration between Formula 1 and Qatar Airways represents a significant step forward for the adoption of SAF.
By bringing together a global sport with a massive following and one of the world's leading airlines, this partnership has the potential to raise awareness about SAF and demonstrate its viability on a large scale.
The investment in SAF by both Formula 1 and Qatar Airways could help drive demand for these fuels, potentially leading to increased production and lower costs over time. This, in turn, could accelerate the adoption of SAF across the aviation industry.
Moreover, the partnership showcases how different sectors can collaborate to address environmental challenges. By leveraging Formula 1's technological expertise and Qatar Airways' aviation experience, this initiative could spur innovation in sustainable fuel technologies that extend beyond the racetrack and airport.
Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand
