McLaren, Renault back F1’s carbon neutral aim

McLaren and Renault have welcomed Formula 1’s scheme to make the championship carbon neutral by 2030. 

On Tuesday, F1 outlined a new initiative to have a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030, while aiming to ensure that all of its events are fully sustainable as early as 2025. 

A number of F1’s 10 teams are understood to have been involved in the plan which has been worked on over the past year, with McLaren and Renault both supporting the project. 

“We congratulate Formula 1 on its commitment to a more sustainable sport,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. 

“McLaren will continue to work closely in partnership with Formula 1 to help turn its strategy into action, as an essential part of our evolving sustainability programme.

“As McLaren operates across the worlds of technology, racing and mobility, we recognise our responsibility to sustainability, from minimising our environmental impact to maximising our social impact through our people, technology, processes and operations.

“This approach echoes the expectations of our fans, customers, partners, employees and stakeholders. 

“We believe motorsport has an opportunity to demonstrate sustainability through key technology to evolve our industry into a showcase for the future. We support and applaud F1’s sustainability strategy.”

McLaren’s midfield rivals Renault also released a statement in which it backed F1’s proposals. 

“Renault F1 Team welcomes and fully supports the strategy announced by Formula 1 on 12 November 2019, which lays out voluntary targets leading to the decarbonisation of the sport by 2030,” the team statement read. 

“This announcement complements Formula 1’s long-term vision for the direction of the sport starting from 2021. The far-reaching plan includes an evolution of sporting and technical regulations and the creation of financial regulations that will reward teams’ economic efficiency. 

“Formula 1 must evolve to maintain its avant-garde character and carry forward initiatives that are coherent with the evolutions and challenges of contemporary society. 

“Carbon neutrality is obviously a key issue and mobilizing the thousands of engineers working in Formula 1 and all the fans around this collective goal is an excellent initiative. 

“Several teams, including Renault F1 Team, were consulted in the conception and execution of Formula 1’s sustainable development plan through the sharing of data and precise guidelines. 

“Renault F1 Team will actively participate alongside Formula 1 in implementing this plan while developing and deploying its own actions with a Social and Sustainable Impact program aligned with Groupe Renault’s strategic vision. 

“Our program is structured around two different dimensions, environmental and human,” the statement continued. 

“Whilst simultaneously contributing to Formula 1’s sustainable development plan, our program will develop two specific axes with regards its environmental dimension: circular economy, and more traditional highlights such as sustainable mobility. 

“One concrete example of our existing approach and commitment is our collaboration in the design and development of modern hybrid E-TECH Plug-In type drives for Renault production vehicles. The human dimension of our plan is based on transmission. 

“We will share more details throughout 2020, including information on the program as well as related projects.”