Motor
Zero compromise and maximum performance - F2 and F3 deploy Aramco’s lower-carbon fuels in 2025
by Samarth Kanal
5min read
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Formula 2 and Formula 3 have set a bold precedent in 2025 with every one of the 52 cars across both championships running on Aramco’s FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuel.
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This major milestone has been achieved without any loss in performance for the F2 and F3 cars, supporting the FIA’s journey toward a lower-carbon future for the FIA feeder championships one year before Formula 1 adopts fuel that meets the FIA’s 100% sustainable fuel standard.
Here’s how Aramco, F2, and F3, made a historic step in 2025.
A rapidly evolving partnership between Aramco, F2 and F3
In September 2022, the FIA F2 and F3 championships signed a memorandum of understanding with Aramco to introduce lower-carbon fuels to the championships from 2023.
Since the start of the 2023 season, every car in the feeder series ran on fuel of which 55% was derived from biomass. As planned, that proportion grew to 100% bio-sourced fuel (as per FIA requirements) from the 2025 season onwards.
All 22 Formula 2 cars (pictured) and 30 Formula 3 cars use Aramco’s FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuel
The initiative aligns with the FIA’s broader sustainability strategy as the governing body aims to halve its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and become a net-zero emitter by 2030.
Pierre-Olivier Calendini, Aramco’s Fuel Research Centre director, says development around lower-carbon fuels has focused on their ‘drop-in’ qualities, “meaning they could be integrated into the existing engine without requiring significant modifications”.
How Aramco’s FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuel was formulated
Aramco’s FIA-compliant sustainable fuel aims to be a ‘drop in’ fuel that requires little modification to an existing engine, but it had to be formulated specifically to work in the F2 and F3 engines.
The engines that power all 52 cars in the feeder series are V6 power units supplied by Mecachrome - turbocharged for F2 and naturally aspirated for F3, with respective maximum outputs of 620 horsepower and 380 horsepower.
We provided several fuel candidates to Mecachrome for engine testing, and together, we selected the most powerful option before proceeding with long endurance trials.
Pierre-Olivier Calendini
, Aramco Fuel Research Centre director
The Mecachrome engine used in the F2 and F3 cars
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“It needs to work from idle to the rev limiter to make sure that the engine is working properly. If there’s any part that doesn’t work, it can damage the engine. You have to take a lot of parameters into account when doing a new mapping,” explained Michot.
“We were running tests in parallel with the car on track, making improvements to the engine mapping, and implementing changes during the test days. We finalised our specification in early July 2024.”
The blend of bio-sourced hydrocarbons that comprise Aramco’s FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuel can still be tweaked to ensure optimal performance and reliability - as Calendini explains.
“Motorsport, especially in high-performance categories like Formula 2 and Formula 3, acts as the perfect laboratory.
“We do not anticipate significant changes,” he adds. “We will analyse all data collected during each race. This feedback should allow fine-tune fuel formulations if necessary.”
Aramco worked with Mecachrome, F2 and F3, to ensure there was no performance loss from the Aramco’s FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuel
The potential of this F2 and F3 milestone
Motorsport is one of many real-world testbeds that give Aramco the data and understanding that it needs to explore a range of possibilities in fuel solutions.
Calendini adds that the development of lower-carbon fuel in motorsport could have the potential to reduce global transport emissions, given it could inform the development of lower-carbon fuel to be implemented in road-going engines in the future.
“The 2025 F2 and F3 fuel provides a significant GHG [greenhouse gas] reduction compared to straight gasoline. Our estimate is around a 75% GHG reduction. That's a great step for the 2025 F2 and F3 seasons.”
Aramco utilises its global research network to explore the possibilities of lower-carbon fuel
From 2026, Aramco plans to also supply Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team with FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuel and the team plans to use Valvoline lubricants and Honda power units. However, work is still ongoing to develop a competitive fuel for the 2026 season.
“Formula 1 engine and fuel regulations are different to those of F2 and F3, and require specific optimisations,” explains Calendini. “We are progressing well with Honda and Aston Martin in development for 2026.”
For F2 and F3, this step could support a lower-carbon future for motorsport as a whole, as F2 and F3 CEO Bruno Michel explains.
“Running on lower-carbon fuels is an important ambition for the future of motorsport and part of a long-term process, which we started with Aramco back in 2023.
“Since then, we have introduced lower-carbon fuels successfully, and this year, 52 cars run on FIA-compliant 100% sustainable fuels across Formula 3 and Formula 2.
He concludes: “This is an incredible step in our journey to making our sport more sustainable, and I would like to thank Aramco for this great milestone. Together, we can be very proud.”
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