Mercedes’ 2025 W16 Features Sustainable Carbon Fibre

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team will revolutionize motorsport sustainability with its 2025 F1 car, the W16, by incorporating sustainable carbon fibre composites. This ambitious step is a major milestone in the evolution of Formula 1, reconciling high performance with sustainability. The transition fits within Mercedes' overall goal of reaching Net Zero emissions by 2040, solidifying its position as a leader in both motorsport and sustainable engineering.

Carbon fibre is a fundamental material in Formula 1, accounting for roughly 75% of the components of an F1 vehicle because of its strength combined with lightness. Nevertheless, the conventional manufacture of carbon fibre has a large environmental footprint based mainly on energy-consuming fabrication processes and non-recyclable scrap. Mercedes' use of sustainable carbon fibre composites overcomes these issues while preserving the structural stability and performance needed for competitive races.

The thinking behind these novel materials is one of a change of heart at the two dominant constituents of carbon fibre composites: the fibre itself, making up 60% of the material, and the resin system, which fills out the rest with 40%. To materialise this imagination, Mercedes has been working closely with top-of-the-line suppliers on two concurrent ventures—one devoted to creating an improved resin system in terms of sustainability, and the other working on creating ecologically friendly fibre. These advancements are expected to be introduced later in 2024, setting the stage for their full integration into the 2025 W16 race car.

Creating sustainable carbon fibre is no easy accomplishment. An F1 car's composite components will usually take up to eight various suppliers, each of whom has to guarantee their materials are acceptable for use under the high performance and safety standards adopted by the FIA, the sport's governing authority. Mercedes is currently collaborating with the FIA to create standards that will see these sustainable materials used as a replacement for traditional composites without degrading the reliability, aerodynamics, or crash worthiness of the car.

Aside from its direct influence on Formula 1, Mercedes sees these innovations influencing industries outside of motorsport, specifically aerospace, aviation, and other high-performance industries. The possibilities are enormous—lightweight, high-strength sustainable composites could transform aircraft design, technical performance fabrics, and even consumer goods, as part of a larger effort to make manufacturing more environmentally friendly.

Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, highlighted the importance of this program, saying, "When you mix performance and innovation, you make progress. I am proud to be heading a team of problem solvers determined to drive sustainable change." This sentiment reflects the team's confidence that sustainability and high-tech engineering can be harmonious bedfellows.

Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability at Mercedes, echoed this sentiment, adding, “Leadership must be driven by innovation. Our efforts in this space demonstrate our ambition to become one of the world’s most sustainable global sports teams.” Her statement highlights Mercedes’ broader mission—using Formula 1’s fast-paced environment as a testing ground for sustainable technologies that can later benefit industries worldwide.

Formula 1 has always been a laboratory of speed for technological innovation, with solutions pioneered on the track eventually filtering down to consumer cars and other sectors. Hybrid power units, aerodynamic innovation, F1's constant drive for efficiency and performance have defined modern automotive and aerospace engineering. With the recent advent of sustainable carbon fibre composites, Mercedes is extending this impact further by making sustainability a part of its technology roadmap.

As the team gets ready to unveil these new materials, the 2025 W16 embodies more than a further step toward Mercedes' domination on the track—it is an expression of intent, demonstrating that sustainability and high performance are not only possible but complementary concepts. In leading the charge for sustainable composites in one of the world's most taxing sports, Mercedes is establishing a benchmark for future breakthroughs in environmentally friendly engineering.

With Formula 1 going carbon neutral by 2030, efforts such as this play a vital role in determining the future of the sport. Mercedes' research on sustainable carbon fibre is not merely about staying competitive—it is about changing what is possible in motorsport and, indeed, in the world beyond. When the W16 takes to the circuit in 2025, it will be not only a demonstration of speed and engineering excellence but also a testament to the future of sustainable high-performance technology.