V-8s Could Return to Formula 1 As Early As 2030, FIA President Says
Eight-cylinder engines with “very, very minor electrification” could return to Formula 1 as soon as 2030, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said.
V-8s Could Return to F1 by 2030: FIA President Darren Heath Photographer - Getty Images Formula 1 has been a quieter place since 2014. While the switch to 1. 6-liter V-6 hybrid powerplants brought improved efficiency, it silenced the iconic, earth-shaking scream of the V-8 engine that defined a generation of F1 racing.
Fans thought that sonorous era was gone for good—or at least, many did until now. According to a report from Reuters , the sport's governing body is planning a return to V-8 power for Formula 1 as early as 2030. The return to V-8 power is not rumor or speculation: it came straight from Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
"It's coming. At the end of the day, it's a matter of time. In 2031, the V8, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs (Power Unit Manufacturers)," Ben Sulayem told Reuters.
That's the regulations. But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone now is asking for. " For 2026, the Formula 1 rules were significantly changed in large part to accommodate power units that supply a greater percentage of power via electricity and sustainable fuel.