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Formula One cars are one of the fastest types of racing car across all disciplines. They can go down straights fast, but they can also corner and slow down through twisty roads in a way no other racing car can.
A Formula One 2022 car will consume approximately 7,09 miles per gallon (39.85 L/100 km) of gas. This is an estimation, as we don’t know how other factors like altitude and track type affect gas consumption.
The gas consumption of Formula One cars has improved significantly from the earlier engine types, where the previous generation of F1 V8 engines achieved a gas consumption of only 3.8mpg (75 liters per 100 km).
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What is the Average Gas Consumption for a F1 Car?
Unfortunately, Formula One teams do not make their car’s Miles Per Gallon (MPG) figures available, and several assumptions must be made.
We cannot include many other factors, including.
- The impact altitude has on gas usage
- The aerodynamic configuration’s effect on gas consumption
- The number and speed at which drivers need to accelerate towards and around corners.
- The number and gradient of any hills one car in the formula must climb.
However, the factors that we can solve are.
- The amount of Formula One car gas tanks can hold.
- Formula one cars can only run for the maximum distance in a single race.
Formula One Cars Can Carry More Gas Than Other Vehicles
Formula One cars can carry a maximum of 105kg of gas.
One gallon is 3.8 lbs (0.74 kg).
You can refer to the following list.
| Imperial | Metric | |
| Maximum fuel load in Kgs | 105.00 | 105.00 |
| One gallon of gasoline weighs approximately 1 liter | 3.80 pounds | 0.74 gallons |
| Tank capacity in Liters | 27.63 gallons | 141.89 Liters |
Formula One Cars Must Travel the Maximum Distance
Circuit Paul Ricard is 2022 Formula One’s longest track.
Below are the track lengths and lap times.
| Country | Track | Distance (km). | Distance (in miles) | No laps | Distance of race (miles). | Distance of race (km). |
| Monaco | Circuit de Monaco | 3.337 | 2.074 | 78 | 162 | 260 |
| Canada | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 4.361 | 2.710 | 70 | 190 | 305 |
| Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | 4.304 | 2.674 | 71 | 190 | 306 |
| Brazil | Autódromo José Carlos Pace | 4.309 | 2.677 | 71 | 190 | 306 |
| Azerbaijan | Baku City Circuit | 6.003 | 3.730 | 51 | 190 | 306 |
| Australia | Albert Park Circuit | 5.279 | 3.280 | 58 | 190 | 306 |
| UAE (Abu Dhabi) | Yas Marina Circuit | 5.281 | 3.281 | 58 | 190 | 306 |
| United Kingdom | Silverstone Circuit | 5.891 | 3.661 | 52 | 190 | 306 |
| Austria | Red Bull Ring | 4.318 | 2.638 | 71 | 187 | 307 |
| Netherlands | Circuit Zandvoort | 4.259 | 2.646 | 72 | 191 | 307 |
| Hungary | Hungaroring | 4.381 | 2.722 | 70 | 191 | 307 |
| Italy (Monza). | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | 5.793 | 3.600 | 53 | 191 | 307 |
| Japan | Suzuka International Racing Course | 5.807 | 3.609 | 53 | 191 | 308 |
| Belgium | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 7.004 | 4.352 | 44 | 191 | 308 |
| USA (Miami). | Miami International Autodrome | 5.41 | 3.360 | 57 | 192 | 308 |
| Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit | 5.412 | 3.363 | 57 | 192 | 308 |
| Spain | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 4.675 | 2.905 | 66 | 192 | 309 |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah Corniche Circuit | 6.174 | 3.836 | 50 | 192 | 309 |
| USA (Austin). | Circuit of the Americas | 5.513 | 3.426 | 56 | 192 | 309 |
| Singapore | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 5.063 | 3.146 | 61 | 192 | 309 |
| Italy (Imola). | Autodromo Internazionale Enzo E Dino Ferrari | 4.909 | 3.05 | 63 | 192 | 309 |
| France | Circuit Paul Ricard | 5.842 | 3.63 | 53 | 192 | 310 |
It has the shortest laps but Circuit Paul Ricard’s circuit length results in it being the longest race.
It is forbidden to refuel during a race. The teams must ensure that they have enough gas to finish the race and enough to satisfy the marshals.
The following are the basic ingredients of a typical race formula.
- One slow formation lap of approximately 5.842 miles (Circuit Paul Ricard)
- Ignoring the grand Prix as it begins.
- In-pit stops are where the car will need to continue running the engine for another 25 seconds.
- Let’s say there are two pit stops per race. Each stop takes an additional 20 seconds.
- The race covers 192 miles (Circuit Paul Ricard).
- One slow down, a victory lap of approximately 5.842 miles (Circuit Paul Ricard)
The car will thus travel 195.84 miles during a race.
Formula One teams use lightweight tanks to drive their cars. Assuming they aim for a margin of one lap at the finish of the race, the Formula One car will travel approximately 196.85 miles (or 198 miles) in the Circuit Paul Ricard’s longest race.
If the track requires a full load of at least 105kg, and the tank is fully filled for the race, the car will use 27.63 Gallons.
Accordingly, the F1 Car MPG is 7.09 miles per gallon (39.85 L/100 km).
This is an estimate, but it doesn’t account for variables that we don’t know.
What Factors Affect Formula One Car Design?
Formula One cars’ primary function and purpose have remained unchanged since the first F1 race at Silverstone in the United Kingdom in 1950.
They can travel at high AVERAGE speeds on complex formula One tracks around the world. They must be designed to achieve the required track times in varied conditions.
Formula One has been forced to embrace technology that makes the cars more environmentally-friendly and reduces the carbon footprint of the sport over the last decade.
It has necessitated a change in the methods used by the engines to generate the power required, which in turn has positively impacted the Formula One cars’ fuel consumption figures.
This has led to the introduction of greener technology in Formula One’s latest generation of engines.
- Reduce the engine size of V8 and V6 engines.
- Regenerative power systems, such as MGU-H or MGU-K.
- For the season 2022, switching to larger wheels
- Aerodynamic improvements are made, although the primary goal is to improve performance, handling and distance from the car in front.
- For the 2022 season, use a 10% gas/ethanol mix.
Conclusion
Formula One wouldn’t have to worry about how much gas they use in an ideal world. The sport has had to make sure that the cars are in line with environmental concerns due to its intense focus on carbon emissions.
While 7 mpg seems high, it’s still quite acceptable when compared to private car standards.
