Ethara, organisers of the 2025 Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and operators of Yas Marina Circuit, have accelerated efforts to reduce the environmental impact of both the event and the venue.
As thousands of F1® fans descend on the circuit to witness the season finale, a number of sustainability practices are being implemented across the event site to reduce emissions and waste, as well as conserve resources.
Dr Arouge Agha, Ethara Sustainability Manager, said, "At Ethara, we aim to keep going from strength to strength in the delivery of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Our commitment to sustainability is a large part of this. We recognize, measure and witness the impact of our event each year, seeking every opportunity to use our platforms to drive positive change across all our operations and communities."
Powered by clean energy
A 1 MW solar car park that went live in 2024 generates 700-800 kW of renewable energy daily and covers up to 30% of Yas Marina Circuit’s annual energy needs. At major events such as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the circuit scales its energy capacity, a demand that was previously met by diesel-powered generators.
For the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the circuit deployed three times more temporary solar power capacity than in 2024, alongside a sixfold increase in Battery Energy Storage Systems to efficiently capture and distribute clean electricity. All temporary generators operate on 100% biofuel blends (B5 and B20), significantly reducing emissions across event operations.
Key areas of the track, including Turns 2, 5 and 9, are powered entirely by clean energy, marking a significant step forward in transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Innovating water supply
With summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi, keeping fans and staff hydrated is a priority. Refill public water stations are installed across public areas, including fan zones and the paddock, as well as Etihad Park, which hosts FAB After-Race concerts. Fans are encouraged to use their own refillable bottles or the provided 100% plastic-free biodegradable paper cups.
Water is supplied by UAE-based and owned Ma Hawa, which uses air-to-water technology to generate a minimum of 65,000 litres of high-quality mineralized water per day, eliminating the need for more than 130,000 half-litre plastic bottles daily.
Reducing single-use plastic
All food and beverage vendors across both Yas Marina Circuit and Etihad Park have replaced plastic water bottles and plastic cups with more sustainable alternatives. This includes canned beverages and canned water from Ma Hawa, Again,Please reusable cups and paper cups.
Again,Please is the reusable cup program launched recently by Polygreen and rolled out by Yas Island, with Ethara’s events and venues being the first adopters. The cups are used to serve beverages across the circuit and at Etihad Park, with dedicated collection points and incentive schemes to help drive guest participation and awareness. The cups are then collected for washing, sanitisation and reuse at events. Made from polypropylene, Again,Please cups can be washed up to 500 times before being recycled.
The single-use plastic reduction program is a regional first for events on this scale, developed in association with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
Decarbonising transportation
Ethara has expanded low-emission transport across Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Island. The entire buggy fleet is now electric, with 10% powered by solar. Public movement is supported by nine fully electric shuttle buses, while all remaining outer-cordon buses operate to Euro 6 standards, reducing emissions and improving efficiency.
To minimise internal vehicle movement, new walking routes have been introduced within the circuit and between Yas Marina Circuit and Etihad Park, making it easier for guests to move between key areas without relying on vehicles.
Managing waste responsibly
To reduce and manage waste, 150 bins for reusable and paper cups and cans, and 70 food-waste bins have been installed across both front- and back-of-house areas. In 2024, over 12,000 kg of food waste was either donated or composted. Similar partnerships with food waste charities have been confirmed for the 2025 event.
Ethara is working towards targets that include cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions from Yas Marina Circuit and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by 50% by 2030, and running events on 100% renewable energy by 2035. The environmental program fully aligns with the UAE government’s sustainability strategies and the Formula 1 environmental sustainability plan, which aims to become Net Zero Carbon by 2030.