The FIA portfolio expands further. The International Federation, Formula 1, and Extreme H, a championship that will inherit the current format of Extreme E from 2025, join forces to create a new technical working group dedicated to hydrogen. The goal is to monitor the technological evolution of fuel cells and batteries, the latter having different characteristics from those used in exclusively electric vehicles. The committee will not only focus on propulsion but will also monitor the state of hydrogen supply and refueling infrastructure, studying all possible safety implications.
Hydrogen and Formula 1
Among the members of the new technical working group are FIA Single Seater Chief Nikolas Tombazis, Extreme H Technical Director Mark Grain, and Formula 1 Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds. Formula 1 is not entirely unfamiliar with the world of hydrogen. The upcoming power units will be powered by blends of biofuels and synthetic fuels, whose synthesis process blends with hydrogen distillation and distribution techniques. Before defining the 2026 regulations, Formula 1 had also considered the option of two-stroke hydrogen-powered opposed-piston engines. The technical direction Formula 1 intends to take at the end of the next regulatory cycle is not yet clear.
Pat Symonds comments: “Our sport has the tradition of presenting new technologies to the public in an incredibly short period. We do this by remaining open to all solutions and approaching interdisciplinary engineering. With the fight against climate change at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts, we are committed to promoting sustainability and therefore exploring all areas of decarbonization in the mobility sector. This includes sustainable fuels, electrification, and hydrogen. The working group allows collaboration that will enable us to gain direct experience and contribute to the understanding and development of various aspects of hydrogen propulsion that Extreme H will adopt.”
The Role of Extreme H
Born as a side branch of Formula E, Extreme H was inaugurated in 2021. The championship is conceived as an off-road discipline, taking its electric off-road vehicles to race in different ecosystems to raise awareness about the effects of climate change. In 2022, the intention to switch to hydrogen propulsion was announced, acknowledging the growing interest of manufacturers. The transition is scheduled for 2025 when the name will change to Extreme H, and the discipline will be recognized as an FIA championship. The goal for 2026 is to earn official recognition as a world championship.
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The first tests with the Extreme H prototype will begin by the end of 2023 and will continue throughout 2024. The category will be the first sports platform to test the potential and challenges of hydrogen technology in motorsports, not only for its cars but also for transportation, infrastructure, refueling, and safety regulation. Technical Director Mark Grain explains: “It is a privilege to work with Formula 1 and FIA as we continue to develop our hydrogen racing formula, the first in the world. Our transition to Extreme H makes us pioneers, not only the first testbed for hydrogen technology in motorsport, not only for our cars but also for transportation, infrastructure, refueling, and safety regulation. It is a revolutionary initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with Formula 1 and Pat Symonds both technically and operationally as we continue to select new technologies and break barriers for motorsport as a whole.”
FIA and the Absence of WEC
It is surprising that the official announcement of the launch of the new technical working group does not refer to any collaborations with the world of endurance racing. ACO has reiterated its intention to introduce a hydrogen class for the 24 Hours of Le Mans starting in 2027, with ongoing studies for the Mission24 project, whose third-generation prototype was recently announced. Toyota has already expressed clear interest, joined by reports of a dozen other manufacturers.
The hydrogen committee will, however, work closely with FIA, which can leverage the knowledge gained for all its championships. “As the governing body for both Formula 1 and the upcoming Extreme H championship from 2025, we welcome this collaboration,” commented Nikolas Tombazis. “The FIA Technical Department has experience and knowledge in hydrogen technology, which we will bring to the working group along with expertise in sports, safety, and regulatory aspects. As already happens throughout the entire FIA motorsport portfolio, we will use the lessons learned from this collaboration for the benefit of our sport and mobility.”
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