FIA President sets 2030 date for Formula 1’s V8 return
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Formula 1 will bring V8 engines back in 2030, setting a date for a change that had been associated with either 2030 or 2031. He made the announcement in Kigali, where the sport confirmed plans for a new race in Rwanda.
The proposed African Grand Prix is due to join the calendar in the early 2030s under a 10-year agreement. Ben Sulayem said it would use the new engine from its first running. The announcement of the race and its long-term agreement is covered in our report on F1’s Rwanda deal.
V8 return receives a firm launch year
The switch would end the turbo-hybrid era that began in 2014. While a return to V8s had been discussed, the timing remained uncertain, with both 2030 and 2031 previously linked to the change. Ben Sulayem’s Kigali comments now put the planned introduction in 2030.
The timing also comes after debate about the next generation of power units. The 2026 regulations set an equal division of output between the internal combustion engine and battery systems, unlike the approximate 80-20 balance in favour of the combustion engine in 2025. The move to an even split was intended to attract more manufacturers to the sport.
The resulting battery charging and energy-harvesting demands have drawn criticism from drivers, including Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The planned V8 return is also the subject of earlier reporting on the possible 2031 timetable.
Ben Sulayem outlines the aims for the new engine
Ben Sulayem identified lighter cars, lower development costs and the sound of the engines as key priorities. He said the cars could be approximately 80kg lighter and that research and development spending on the engine could fall by at least 50 per cent.
He also stressed that the return had support from Formula 1 and manufacturers. With Rwanda expected to host its first race in the early 2030s, the country’s planned debut would come under the new engine era if the announced 2030 introduction proceeds as stated.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.