The FIA, Formula 1 and Extreme H have announced the formation of a new technical working group to explore future possibilities for hydrogen motorsport technology.
The technical working group will include F1 Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds, Formula E technical director Mark Grain and FIA Single Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis.
Its stated objective is to ‘monitor the progression and development’ of hydrogen fuel cells and battery systems, along with hydrogen technology as part of the paddock infrastructure.
The Extreme H off-road racing series is gearing up for its first season 2025 — replacing its electric Extreme E forebear also run by the Formula E organisation — and is aiming to become the first FIA World Championship for cars running with hydrogen fuel.
The FIA is developing the technical, sporting and safety regulations for Extreme H.
‘As the governing body for both the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the upcoming FIA Extreme H Championship in 2025, we welcome this latest collaboration, said Tombazis.
‘The FIA Technical Department has experience and knowhow in the area of hydrogen technology which we will be bring to the Working Group along with sporting, safety and regulatory expertise.
‘As is currently the case across the entire FIA motorsport portfolio, we will take learnings from this collaboration for the benefit of our sport and mobility.’
Extreme H car builder Spark Racing Technology plans to complete the first shakedown of the new hydrogen-fuelled car before the end of this year, although the fuel cell has already been tested on a mule chassis. A comprehensive test programme is planned for 2024.
The car has been developed on learnings from the Odyssey 21, which has been used in the Extreme E series since 2021. This has included adopting a single-seat cockpit design to improve adjustability and driver safety.
Hydrogen technology has been given more attention by global motorsport bodies in recent years. Several manufacturers have taken part in ACO technical working group meetings related to the FIA World Endurance Championship’s planned adoption of hydrogen.
‘Our transition to Extreme H makes us the pioneers and first-ever testbed of hydrogen technology in motorsport – not only in our racing cars, but also transportation, infrastructure, refuelling processes and safety regulations,’ said Grain.
‘It’s a ground-breaking initiative and we look forward to collaborating with Formula 1 and Pat [Symonds] both technically and operationally, as we continue to champion new technologies and break boundaries on behalf of motorsport, with hydrogen at the forefront.’
The new hydrogen working group marks a first consideration of the technology for Formula 1, which has been using hybrid internal combustion engine drive since 2014. However, the formation of the working group does not necessarily mean that F1 has committed to making the hydrogen switch.
‘Our sport has a tradition of bringing new technologies to the forefront of public perception in incredibly short timescales,’ said Symonds.
‘We do this by being open-minded to all solutions and embracing cross-functional engineering.
‘With climate change mitigation at the forefront of everyone’s mind we are committed to promoting sustainability and therefore need to explore all areas of decarbonisation of the mobility sector. This must include sustainable liquid hydrocarbon fuels, electrification and hydrogen.
‘This Working Group enables a collaboration which will allow us to gain first-hand experience and contribute to the understanding and development of the many aspects of hydrogen propulsion that Extreme H will embrace.’
