Mercedes will be able to normally use the fuel supplied by Petronas at the Australian GP, the round that opens the 2026 Formula 1 season next weekend. Information from the GPBlog website indicates that the product has already passed the necessary homologation process to be released for use.
Read more F1: FIA releases press conference schedule for the Australian GP
In the days leading up to the start of the championship, doubts arose not only about the compression ratio of the Mercedes power unit, but also regarding the fuel developed by the Malaysian partner. During pre-season testing in Bahrain, it came to light that the homologation was not yet fully completed.
This year, the procedure has become more complex because of the introduction of sustainable fuels within the new engine regulations. Now, it is not just the final product that needs to be analyzed, but also the entire production process. An external entity participates in the verification before the FIA grants official approval.
Given the scenario, it was even suggested that Mercedes and its customer teams, McLaren, Williams, and Alpine, could be forced to temporarily use an alternative fuel if the approval was not granted in time.
Read more F1: FIA suspends curfew at the Australian GP
Still in Bahrain, team principal Toto Wolff downplayed the speculation and stated that there was no internal concern about the issue. The position proved correct, as the fuel has been homologated and can be used normally in the race in Melbourne.
This final formal confirmation still depends on validation from the FIA, which needs to approve all fuels supplied by engine manufacturers. So far, no supplier has publicly announced the completion of the process. Thus, the controversy surrounding the issue tends to end as just an alarm greater than the actual problem.
Read more F1: Mercedes and McLaren staff leave Bahrain after tension
