Overview
- Reports indicate only three fuel suppliers—Shell, BP and ExxonMobil—have received 2026 certification ahead of the March 1 deadline, while Petronas remains uncertified and Aramco’s status is unclear.
- The FIA hired British firm Zemo to verify not just final blends but full upstream production, including inspections and molecule-level checks, making approvals more time-consuming.
- The FIA allowed non-certified surrogate fuels in pre-season testing due to a regulatory oversight, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff dismissed suggestions that the team used anything “illegal.”
- Max Verstappen said Red Bull’s ExxonMobil fuel is “all okay” and “fixed in time,” reinforcing reports that the team is cleared to race on its sustainable blend.
- If Petronas misses certification, Mercedes, McLaren, Alpine, Williams and Aston Martin may have to run a temporary approved blend that could carry a performance penalty, although the FIA’s target is full sign-off by Australia.