Mercedes F1: Bio-Based Materials & Freight Decarbonisation

Sustainability and high performance car racing aren’t considered synonymous, but the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team believes that the high-pressure test bed of the F1 track can be as productive for innovative sustainability as it is technology.

The team’s 2025 season marked a pivotal chapter in its mission to become one of the most sustainable professional sports teams on the planet.

“We are proud of the progress made in 2025 across the environmental sustainability landscape and within the inclusion and social impact space,” says Bradley Lord, Team Representative and Chief Communications Officer, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

“Our actions matter to us, and we know it matters to our fans. 

“We are energised by what is to come in 2026 and determined to keep raising the bar – at home, on track and in the communities that we live and race in.”  

Bio-based carbon fibre

The year saw a major breakthrough in sustainable materials. 

At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the team debuted a bio-based carbon fibre composite on the rear brake duct wheel shields of George Russell’s #63 W16. Developed in collaboration with suppliers, the component endured more than 7,000km of race conditions – a formidable test under the thermal and aerodynamic pressures of F1 competition.

After its debut in Baku, the car carried the new material to victory in Singapore, achieved podium finishes in Las Vegas and secured top-three results in Sprint Races across Austin, São Paulo and Qatar. The project not only proved the durability of bio-based composites but also hinted at their potential for wider application across performance engineering sectors.

Low-carbon miles off the track

Sustainability leadership extended well beyond the racetrack. 

In Brackley, home to the team’s technical base, staff participation in a car-sharing initiative saved an impressive 360,000 commuting miles in 2025 – the equivalent of nearly 99,000 laps around Silverstone Circuit. 

This community-driven effort highlights that systemic impact comes from employee-led innovation as much as from technical breakthroughs.

Freight and logistics

Meanwhile, logistics – the Achilles’ heel for most global sports – became a focal point for emission reduction. The team made history by transporting its F1 cars and equipment to the Dutch Grand Prix using an all-electric Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros 600. 

Covering the 673km journey from Brackley to Zandvoort, this move followed a successful pilot at Silverstone earlier in the year, setting a new standard for sustainable race logistics. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS remains the first F1 team to use fully electric trucks to transport equipment to a European race weekend.

For longer-distance freight, the team expanded the use of HVO100 biofuel across its internal combustion fleet, avoiding more than 410 tCO₂e in 2025. That’s equivalent to the annual carbon sequestration capacity of roughly 33,600 mature mangrove trees.

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend:

• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Blue Carbon Collective

Mangroves, as one of nature’s most efficient carbon sinks, became a symbol of the team’s environmental strategy last year. 

The launch of the Blue Carbon Collective, a partnership between Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS and Title and Technical Partner PETRONAS, reflected their joint commitment to climate-positive restoration. The initiative funds mangrove research and restoration in Brazil and Malaysia – two regions central to blue carbon ecosystems.

The project also inspired the design of the team’s special-edition Miami Grand Prix merchandise and connected the team’s global fanbase to critical coastal conservation work. Notably, eight venues on the 2025 F1 calendar lie within 100 km of mangrove forests, from Singapore to São Paulo – offering future opportunities for local engagement and education.

“As we look to the coming season, it’s rewarding to see the progress that our team made in 2025,” says Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. 

“Our progress would not have been possible without the contributions of our team members in Brackley and Brixworth, and the support of our partners and suppliers. 

“There were many highlights in 2025 but the significance of applying a bio-based carbon fibre composite material to the W16 cannot be underestimated, and we are grateful to all of those involved. 

“We look forward to 2026 as we work to shape a more sustainable future for Formula One.”