FIA President Signals V8 Engine Revival
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of motorsport’s governing body the FIA, declared last weekend that Formula 1 will return to V8 engines. This statement has ignited discussions across the sport, an idea that seemed unlikely just a year ago.
The current power units, introduced this season and planned through 2030, have drawn significant criticism. Ben Sulayem emphasized the shift during the Miami Grand Prix. “It’s coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time,” he stated. “In 2031, the V8, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the power unit manufacturers. That’s the regulations. But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone now is asking for.”
From Hybrid Dominance to V8 Nostalgia
V8 engines last powered F1 cars in 2013, replaced by 1.6-liter V6 hybrids to align with the automotive industry’s electrification trend. Modifications occurred in 2022, but the core design persisted for 12 seasons.
The 2026 power units triple electrical output from 120 kW to 350 kW, creating a near 50-50 split between combustion and electric power. Drivers must manage battery energy recovery, limiting flat-out racing. These units weigh at least 185 kg—40 kg heavier than 2025 models and double the 95 kg of 2013 V8s.
Cost Concerns Drive Change
High costs plague the new regulations. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali highlighted the issue last month: “The cost of the power unit is too high, that is definite. We have the duty to make sure that this business is sustainable. We need to have products that are technologically relevant, and therefore, the cost of this is too high.”
Power unit manufacturers face a $190 million cost cap this year, up from $95 million annually previously, totaling around $660 million per manufacturer by season’s end. Despite FIA authority in 2031, manufacturer support remains crucial after such investments.
New Manufacturers Embrace Hybrids
The 2026 rules, emphasizing electrification and simplicity by removing the MGU-H, attracted newcomers. Audi develops its own engine, General Motors commits to a full Cadillac works team by decade’s end, and Honda reversed its 2021 exit.
Shota Yokono, spokesperson for Honda Racing Corporation, explained: “Our investment in motorsport, especially Formula 1, is a strategic investment to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Honda’s four-wheel business. These technologies and skills directly support our future automobile business. Through engineer rotation between motorsport, mass production, and advanced development, we ensure this knowledge is returned to the wider organisation. Ultimately, investment in racing is about developing technology, people, and brand—to create future value of Honda.”
A ‘Mega Engine’ Compromise Emerges
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff supports flexible regulations. “Long term, I think from a Mercedes standpoint we are open to engine regulations,” he said. “We love V8s. That has only great memories. From our perspective, it’s a real Mercedes engine; it revs high.”
Wolff proposed a “mega engine”: 800 brake horsepower from combustion plus 400 bhp electric. “And then how do we make it? How do we give enough energy from the battery side to not lose connection to the real world?” he added. “If we swing 100 per cent combustion, then we’re looking a bit ridiculous in 2031 or 2030. So we need to consider that. Make it simpler and make it a mega engine.”
“We recognise the financial realities of [manufacturers] these days … but if it’s well-planned and executed, then we, Mercedes, count us in to come back with a real racing engine.”
V8 nostalgia surges, with the FIA leading the charge and manufacturers showing openness. Debates on future power units will shape F1 for years ahead.
