Formula 1, explained for rookies

F1 can't go all electric, then it would be formula E. However!! F1 can go carbon neutral and plans to! By using synthetic fuel made from carbon capture and hydrogen. 

It would still be a hydrocarbon like gasoline, but it would remove as much carbon as it creates meaning it's "zero emissions"! This was a huge development by Porsche and is one example of racing tech making it to road cars. Since your typical car can also burn this fuel!

Additionally - tech does get passed down often. Carbon fiber and it's use largely has F1 to thank. As well as our understanding of different brake and tyre materials. And the big one! Driver safety. It's not often a crash pulls 50Gs and the drivers live to tell about it, but that's pretty common in an F1 crash.