“It’s Nonsense”: Fans Trash F1 & NASCAR’s Nature-Friendly Tactic to Expose a ‘Marketing Ploy’

Motorsport is changing gears and not everyone’s on board with the new direction. Big names in world motorsport like NASCAR and Formula 1 have rolled out ambitious plans to go net zero—NASCAR by 2035 and F1 by 2030. From renewable energy at racetracks to sustainable aviation fuel for logistics, the goals seem solid on paper. But for fans, this “eco-friendly” drive is less about saving the planet and more about saving face and killing the spirit of racing.

Scroll through Reddit or fan forums, and it’s clear there’s no shortage of skepticism. While the racing world pats itself on the back for cutting emissions, fans are calling out what they see as greenwashing. Let’s just say the reception hasn’t exactly been a standing ovation.

In 2023, NASCAR announced its Impact program, a sustainability push that promised to bring big changes. Think renewable energy, EV chargers at tracks, and even sustainable racing fuels. NASCAR committed to hitting net zero across its operations by 2035, with Eric Nyquist, NASCAR’s Chief Communications & Impact Officer, calling it “an ambitious goal but one that holds us accountable.” At the moment, NASCAR uses gasoline as its fuel, of which 15% percent is ethanol, a renewable fuel.

But while F1  and NASCAR seem to be leaning hard into these changes, some fans aren’t convinced it’ll make a real dent in the sport’s environmental footprint. Flying teams, cars, and equipment around the globe still burn plenty of fuel, sustainable or not. As NASCAR and F1 chase net zero, they face a tough road ahead—not just in hitting their goals but in convincing fans it’s more than marketing. Sure, sustainability is important, but does it come at the cost of the raw, unfiltered essence of motorsport

Formula 1 did make loud claims about sustainability. The sport is on track to go net zero by 2030, with plans to introduce 100% sustainable fuel by 2026 and reduce emissions through smarter logistics. Part of that strategy involves investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in partnership with Qatar Airways and DHL, which will cut air freight emissions by 19% in 2025. Sounds good, right?

Right now, many fans aren’t sold. Whether these initiatives can win them over remains to be seen. For now, the green flag is waving, but the track to acceptance might be bumpier than anticipated.

Fans are not buying NASCAR and F1’s “green revolution”

The effort seemed promising, at least initially. But fans quickly pointed out the fine print. “Since it seems no one in this thread has looked into the NASCAR Impact program, it’s essentially NASCAR going Net Zero for operations by introducing EV charging and renewables powering the tracks,” one Reddit user explained. “This has nothing to do with emissions from the racing itself nor from logistics.” said the user, trying to clear up any misunderstanding of the purpose of IMPACT, amidst the conversation of NASCAR potentially moving away from it’s signature V8 formula. In F1, the spirit-rattling shrieks of the high-revving natural aspirated V8s and V10s are sorely missed. The thrill of roaring engines, the grit of old-school racing—that’s what people love. Diluting it with EVs and “corporate sustainability” feels like a step away from what made these sports iconic in the first place.

Another commenter was even more blunt, dismissing the initiative, saying “It’s nonsense greenwashing” and claiming it just meant NASCAR would “buy dubious credits.” implying that the sport would just be carbon neutral on the surface when in reality they’d just be buying more credits to compensate rather than actually bringing their footprint down. For the uninitiated, carbon credits are permits that allow organizations to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases, typically one ton of CO₂ per credit. Companies can offset their emissions by purchasing these credits, which fund projects like renewable energy or reforestation to balance out their environmental impact. Another fan chimed in with a different concern: “Net zero at the last steps. The carbon emissions will just get moved upstream somewhere.”

Not to everyone. “Net zero is a marketing ploy,” wrote another fan. “It’s paying a guilt tax to offset emissions. All the emissions from shipping cars, drivers, teams, and equipment all over the planet is still polluting the environment. F1 teams simply have deep enough pockets to pay the tax and market themselves as ‘carbon neutral.” F1’s newest partnership with Qatar Airways for the SAF program has been framed as a milestone in sustainable motorsport. The program, paired with operational changes like biofuel-powered trucks and redesigned cargo containers, is meant to reduce emissions and keep F1 on track for its 2030 goal. Meanwhile, NASCAR’s Impact program seems to have hit a red light. Despite the bold 2023 announcement, there hasn’t been much follow-up. “At least F1 seems to be making some real logistical changes,” one fan observed. “NASCAR hasn’t said a word about their program in a year.”