The latest Sustainable Championships Index™ (SChI™), released by Enovation Consulting in collaboration with University College London, provides a timely mid-decade snapshot of that progress. Assessing 89 championships across 25 criteria, the 2026 edition reveals a sport accelerating towards sustainability—but still facing an uneven road ahead.

The Podium of Progress

At the front of the grid, familiar leaders continue to set the pace.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship retains its position as the most sustainable motorsport series globally for a fifth consecutive year, achieving an exceptional score of 97 out of 100. Built around a net-zero model since inception, Formula E has strengthened its credentials through new certifications, including ISO 14064 for greenhouse gas accounting and the BSI Net Zero Pathway.

Formula One holds second place, maintaining its position in the top “four-cup” category. Despite the complexity of a global calendar, the championship has delivered a 26% reduction in overall emissions, alongside a 59% drop in factory and facility emissions—evidence that scale is no longer a barrier to progress.

MotoGP completes the top three, consolidating its position through continued investment in sustainable fuels. Its Moto2 and Moto3 classes have already transitioned to a minimum 40% non-fossil fuel mix, with a full transition to 100% sustainable fuels targeted by 2027.

Together, these championships are not only leading the rankings—they are shaping the future direction of the sport.

An Industry Gaining Momentum

Beyond the leaders, the broader picture is one of steady, if uneven, progress.

Thirty championships improved their sustainability scores in 2025, up from 26 the previous year. More significantly, the number of championships scoring zero points has fallen dramatically—from 72 in the first index in 2021 to 38 today—highlighting a widening baseline of engagement across the sport.

As Professor Paolo Taticchi explains:

“Motorsport has long been defined by its relentless pursuit of breaking performance boundaries on track. Increasingly, this culture of drive and innovation is being directed toward accelerating sustainable progress across the industry.”

Key drivers behind this shift include mandatory FIA environmental accreditations, rapid fuel transitions, and operational changes such as alternative energy now powering the majority of Formula One races.

Beyond Carbon: A Broader ESG Shift

While environmental performance remains the strongest pillar, the 2026 Index highlights growing maturity across social and governance dimensions.

Accessibility has emerged as a key area of progress, with 33 championships now implementing initiatives to engage underrepresented groups—up from 25 the previous year.

Formula E’s FIA Girls on Track programme exemplifies this shift, expanding across all race markets and doubling participation to 2,000 young women. More broadly, social impact initiatives across championships reached over 32,000 people in host communities.

Dr Cristiana Pace, Founder and CEO of Enovation Consulting, reinforces the direction of travel:

“Sustainability is no longer a footnote: it’s becoming a core part of the sport’s performance and impact.”

Governance is also evolving. The emergence of standards such as ISO 45001 and ISO 26000 signals a move beyond carbon into more holistic ESG management—aligning motorsport with wider global expectations.

A Mid-Decade Reality Check

Despite clear progress, the Index offers a note of caution.

While 30 championships improved, 59 recorded no change in their sustainability performance—highlighting a growing divide between leaders and the rest of the field.

This reflects a broader truth: early gains have often come from visible, operational changes. The next phase—deep decarbonisation, systemic transformation and measurable impact—will be significantly more complex.

As the report itself notes, this is a pivotal moment for the industry, where ambition must begin to translate into consistent, long-term outcomes.

The Road to 2030

The timing of this year’s Index is significant. Positioned at the halfway point to 2030 targets, it provides a benchmark against which future progress will be judged.

External pressures are also intensifying. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will make ESG disclosure mandatory for large organisations from 2026, shifting sustainability from a voluntary exercise to a regulatory requirement.

For motorsport, this marks a fundamental shift. Transparency, accountability and measurable impact will become central to how championships operate—and how they are assessed.

From Innovation to Impact

Motorsport has long been a testbed for technological innovation. Today, it is increasingly a testbed for sustainable innovation—demonstrating how high-performance environments can respond to global challenges.

The leaders are clear. The direction is set. But the gap between ambition and delivery remains.

As the race to net zero accelerates, the question is no longer whether motorsport can change—but how quickly the rest of the field can catch up.