F1 2026 Fuel Partnerships: Who's Supplying Each Power Unit
F1's 2026 regulations mandate advanced sustainable fuels, creating key partnerships between power unit makers and fuel suppliers. Here's the full list of who is fueling whom on the grid next season.
As Formula 1 prepares for a major regulatory reset in 2026, the introduction of advanced sustainable fuels is set to become a critical new battleground for performance. Beyond the new power units themselves, the specialized fuels powering them will be key, with each manufacturer securing exclusive partnerships with major energy brands. These alliances will play a pivotal role in extracting maximum power and efficiency from the new hybrid engines as the sport pushes towards a more sustainable future.
Why it matters:
With the 2026 regulations significantly increasing electrical power and limiting fuel flow, the chemical composition of the fuel becomes a crucial variable for unlocking performance. The partnership between a manufacturer and fuel supplier is now a deeply integrated technical collaboration, not just a sponsorship deal, focused on creating potent 'drop-in' fuels that work with existing internal combustion engine technology. Success in developing a superior sustainable fuel could provide a decisive competitive edge in an era where performance margins are expected to be extremely tight.
The details:
Here is a complete breakdown of the fuel supplier partnerships for the 2026 season and the teams they will serve:
- Mercedes-Petronas: The long-standing partnership continues, with Petronas fuel supplying the works team along with customer teams McLaren, Williams, and Alpine.
- Ferrari-Shell: Another iconic partnership, Shell will continue to fuel Ferrari, its customer team Haas, and the new Cadillac entry joining the grid.
- Red Bull Ford-ExxonMobil: ExxonMobil will partner with Red Bull's in-house powertrains division, supplying both Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Racing Bulls.
- Honda-Aramco: In a significant new alliance, Saudi Aramco will be the fuel partner for the Honda-powered Aston Martin team.
- Audi-Castrol: As the German manufacturer prepares for its works entry, they have partnered with Castrol (part of bp) to develop and supply their fuel.
Looking ahead:
The development race is now fully underway, with these partnerships working intensely in laboratories to create the optimal fuel blend for the new power units. The FIA will play a crucial role in verifying that all fuels meet the strict sustainability and component sourcing mandates, ensuring a level playing field. While the partnerships are set, the true impact of these fuel collaborations on the competitive order will only become clear when the cars hit the track for pre-season testing in 2026.