How do you build a circular F1 car?
Re-imagining car construction for a more sustainable sport
Could elite motorsport become a beacon for circularity?
Season after season, hundreds of millions of fans watch F1 teams push the limits of speed and technology.
As technology grows ever more sophisticated, what if performance and sustainability could go hand in hand?
Commissioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and created by McLaren Racing and Deloitte UK, the first constructors’ Circularity Handbook for F1 cars is being shared with all F1 teams.
Based on McLaren Racing’s construction activities, the Handbook is designed to improve sustainable practices in the development and manufacture of the F1 car, enabling teams to gather data on their approach to circularity and move towards a more sustainable future for motorsport.
A Circularity Handbook for Formula 1
With a proud history of pioneering innovation, McLaren Racing was the first F1 team to race a chassis manufactured wholly from carbon fibre in 1981, with technology also used by NASA.
In 2023, it pioneered the use of recycled carbon fibre on its F1 cars at the US Grand Prix, in step with its ambition to develop a circular F1 car.
“The manufacture of our F1 car is a key opportunity to improve our environmental impact and make progress towards our sustainability targets,” says McLaren Racing’s director of sustainability, Kim Wilson.
“As a team, we are passionate about driving change in our sport and this Handbook is a crucial step in achieving that.
“We can’t do it alone, but if we can encourage all teams to measure their circularity, we can collectively influence technical regulations to improve sustainability without compromising performance.”
Where F1 innovation leads, others follow. Beyond elite racing, it’s hoped that showing what’s possible on the F1 track sends a powerful message about how performance and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
“The team’s ambitions and commitment to leading the way will show that you can have circularity and performance,” says David Rakowski, a partner at Deloitte.
“I hope that, together, we can inspire others, in the automotive sector and wider industries, to meet their circularity potential.”
Imagine the possibilities, if innovations proven in F1 could help other industries reduce their use of materials, build supply chain resilience and minimise environmental impact.
From F1 to the world
Commissioned by the FIA, and developed by McLaren Racing and Deloitte UK, the comprehensive Handbook provides a step-by-step methodology for teams to calculate their circularity.
Reflecting the FIA’s commitment to improving sustainable practices across motorsport and mobility, it includes research to enable all F1 teams to adopt and measure practices that minimise the environmental impact of the materials they use, while maximising their value and reducing waste.
Sharing the Circularity Handbook with all F1 constructors will allow teams to gather data around their circularity, within the current set of racing regulations and cost cap.
It’s hoped that, over the coming months, collaboration will unlock further potential, as teams identify interventions and circular practices that could be introduced in future regulations in the sport.
Measuring what matters
McLaren Racing and Deloitte’s partnership brings together racing regulation and car manufacturing knowledge from McLaren, and Deloitte's understanding of circular economy principles and measurement methodologies.
Including everything from material selection and manufacturing processes to waste reduction and end-of-life management, it enables constructors to track their progress, identify areas for improvement and calculate a single circularity metric.
"Understanding McLaren Racing’s processes and materials enabled us to measure and calculate the team’s path to circularity – because, if you can’t measure it, you can’t change it,” David continues.
Deloitte’s insights on wider industry and leading methodologies, such as the Global Circularity Protocol, have already helped steer McLaren towards taking the right actions to improve the sustainability of car manufacture.
Over time, the aim is that, in collaboration with the FIA, the Handbook may be to be used more widely and to influence future regulations and innovation in motorsport.
“Formula 1 is a phenomenal platform for showing what the art of possible is,” David concludes.
“I'm excited to see the impact the Handbook will have on the future of the sport.”
“As a team, we are passionate about driving change in our sport. If we can encourage all teams to measure their circularity, we can collectively influence technical regulations to improve sustainability without compromising performance.”
Kim Wilson, Director of Sustainability, McLaren Racing
