Vettel said F1 can keep speed, cut emissions
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 21, 2026
Vettel on sustainability
Sebastian Vettel said Formula 1 can keep the speed, drama and intensity that built its fan base while moving toward a more sustainable future. Speaking at Monza, he drew a clear line between responsibility and spectacle, and said the sport does not have to choose one over the other. Vettel said the current generation of Formula 1 cars still carries the traits he values most, naming performance, precision, discipline and responsibility as the markers of the modern machine. He also said new technology can preserve those qualities while pushing the sport in a cleaner direction. For Vettel, the challenge is simple in concept and difficult in execution, finding a way to keep what fans love while using technology that can reach beyond the racetrack.
Sustainable fuels future
Vettel called sustainable fuels the next step for Formula 1 and said they offer a better path for the sport’s future than the current hybrid power units. He said the technology could benefit more than just F1, pointing to other racing series and future road cars as places where the same approach could have an impact. Vettel also said Formula 1 could bring back louder V8 engines in the future, a reminder that he sees the sport’s next phase as one that can blend emotion with engineering. He was direct about where he stands on the current package, saying he is not fully aligned with the present regulations from a driving perspective. That view did not change his larger point. He said the sport can still combine performance with responsibility, and that the push for cleaner fuels does not have to dull the product. In his view, the right technical direction can keep Formula 1 fast while giving it a wider role in motorsport and automotive development.
Classic cars at Monza
Vettel also tied his argument to Formula 1’s past, using older cars to show why the sport’s history still matters. He pointed to his run in Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari at Monza as a reminder of the appeal that classic Formula 1 machinery still carries. Vettel then cited Nigel Mansell’s 1992 Williams FW14B and Ayrton Senna’s 1993 McLaren MP4/8 as examples of classic cars that could run on sustainable fuels. Those examples backed up his broader view that innovation should not erase the sport’s identity. Instead, he wants Formula 1 to keep the character of its most memorable eras while adapting the technology underneath it. That approach fits the message he repeated throughout his comments, that the sport can honor the cars and moments that made it famous while still building something that has a wider impact beyond grand prix racing.
