The FIA has approved the fuel of Mercedes and its customer teams just before the Australian GP. The Silver Arrows have thus succeeded in finalizing the homologation of the fuel, after earlier speculations emerged about its legality. Mercedes and customer teams McLaren, Williams, and Alpine can therefore start the Formula 1 season in Melbourne with the fuel.
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Two weeks ago, during the test days in Bahrain, various sources in the paddock reported that Mercedes was still waiting for the certification of their fuel from the governing body. The new homologation process is said to be more complex and take longer than before, due to the introduction of sustainable fuels. Additionally, the FIA no longer only checks the final product, but the governing body also monitors the entire production process.
More complex process
For the 2026 season, the entire production chain was checked for the first time. Employees from the certification body visit the factories to monitor whether each phase of fuel production meets the established criteria. In addition, the certifications of individual components are also examined, including those of all suppliers involved in the production process. Only when all certifications are complete can the fuel be homologated.
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Toto Wolff previously said he was not worried about the approval of the Petronas fuel. The team principal stated during the test days in Bahrain that he was completely done with the rumors about his team. “It was said that our engine was illegal, which is total bullshit. And now comes the story that our gasoline is illegal,” Wolff said at the time. “I don’t know where that comes from. Maybe they’ll invent something else tomorrow. God knows what, maybe that I’m in the Epstein files…”
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