As the year races by, a few major sporting events have taken centre stage in the headlines: from the recent Monaco Grand Prix to the 2026 World Cup already underway. Whilst global energy markets are still grappling with the disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis, these events retain a unique ability to capture global attention. And at the intersection of sustainability and sport, a new player is steadily gaining traction: hydrogen-fuelled motor cars. Though operating on a much smaller stage, hydrogen motorsport is beginning to emerge as a strong contender in the race for a low-carbon future.
With high energy density and rapid refuelling, hydrogen offers an attractive alternative to conventional combustion engines on the race track. Unlike battery electric vehicles, these cars can be refuelled in a matter of minutes, making them ideal for endurance racing.1 Additionally, in fuel cell vehicles, the only direct by-product is water vapour, meaning carbon emissions are almost completely eliminated. This method has already influenced Toyota Motor Corp., which has developed a liquid hydrogen-powered race car showcased at 24 Hours of Le Mans.2 The vehicle stores hydrogen in liquid form, before supplying it to a modified combustion engine, helping engineers explore the potential of hydrogen under the extreme demands of endurance racing.
Whilst Formula 1 receives the most media coverage and highest global viewership, hydrogen racing is quietly beginning to move into the fast lane. In October 2025, the first hydrogen powered motorsport championship, the FIA Extreme H World Cup, was launched in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia. And it’s now returning to the grid in 2026. This race will take place against the backdrop of the Saudi Desert, as eight teams compete across two time trials followed by a series of head-to-head rounds. But will hydrogen make an appearance in Formula 1 itself?
For now, that remains unlikely. Formula 1 has already committed to sustainable fuels and hybrid technologies as part of its 2026 regulations, meaning hydrogen is unlikely to be incorporated in the near term.3 Aside from this, another potential hurdle may lie in the nature of the show itself. Anyone who’s an avid watcher of Formula 1 will be aware that the sport is as much about sound as it is about speed, and hydrogen-powered vehicles operate with much less of the dramatic engine noise that fans have become accustomed to. While this is far from the main reason hydrogen has yet to breach Formula 1, it highlights a broader challenge in the roadmap to sustainable motorsport: preserving the spectacle that keeps viewers hooked.
Whilst hydrogen motorsport remains a niche sector, competitions like Extreme H demonstrate hydrogen’s growing presence in both experimental and mainstream fields. But hitting the brakes on motorsport, this issue of Global Hydrogen Review will keep readers up to speed with developments across a wide range of sectors, from electrolysers to digitalisation, with plenty more to exhaust on the subject of mobility later on.
- https://www.prv-engineering.co.uk/how-hydrogen-race-cars-are-transforming-the-future-of-motorsport/
- https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/08062026/toyotas-hydrogen-powered-car-enters-race/
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/2026-regulations-explained-all-you-need-to-know-about-f1s-advanced.4h53Szn4Z3VsD6rGcR3LtU
