FIA confirms Formula 1 will return to V8 engines by 2030

The roar of the V8 engine is set to return to Formula 1. After years of debate surrounding the cost, weight, and complexity of the sport's modern power units, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has definitively confirmed that F1 will revert to V8 engines at the dawn of the next decade.

However, the landscape has seen a subtle shift in opinion. The current power units remain highly expensive for both manufacturers and customer teams. Furthermore, despite the axing of the MGU-H, the sheer weight of the battery required to service the electrical element has made the cars undeniably heavy.

The 2030 Target and the FIA's Power Play

Speaking to select media, Ben Sulayem left no room for ambiguity regarding the sport's engine future.

"It’s coming," Ben Sulayem stated, referring to the switch back to V8s or V10s. "Oh yes, it is coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time."

The catalyst for this confidence lies in the regulatory framework. By 2031, the FIA will possess the power to dictate engine regulations without requiring a vote from the power unit manufacturers (PUMs). However, the governing body is aggressively pushing to accelerate the timeline.

"In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs. That’s the regulations," Ben Sulayem explained. "But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone [externally] now is asking for. When you try to tell them [the PUMs] they say no, but what will come, will come, and it [the power] will come back to the FIA."

When pressed on a specific target for the introduction of the new engines, the FIA President was resolute: "I'm targeting 2030. One year before the maturity [of the regulations], it will happen."

While the FIA holds the ultimate trump card, Ben Sulayem indicated that the manufacturers are beginning to show "positive" remarks, noting that "they want it to happen." Yet, he maintained a firm stance on the inevitable outcome: "But let's say the manufacturers don't [vote for it], then one more year and it will be done. It's not a matter of, 'Do I need their support?' No, it will be done. V8 is coming."

Less Complexity, More Emotion

For the FIA, the transition away from the current hybrid philosophy is not merely a technical adjustment; it is a fundamental shift in the sport's mission. The goal is to drastically reduce complexity and return to a formula that benefits real-world applications.

"Let's not talk about the technical side of it. Let's talk about the mission of it," Ben Sulayem noted. "The mission will be less complication, not like now. When the MGU-H was there before, it was there to serve a purpose, but none of the manufacturers benefited from it in the real world. Now, with just the MGU-K, it's the same engine. It's turbo, it's 1.6 litre."

While a return to V10s was considered, it is not on the cards due to a lack of road relevance for modern manufacturers. Instead, the V8 emerged as the logical and preferred route, offering the perfect balance of emotion, simplicity, and weight reduction.

"I feel like a V10… if I ask any of the manufacturers who are in F1 now if they produce any cars with a V10, an era that many of the cars had, but now, no," Ben Sulayem admitted. "The most popular and easiest to work with is the V8. You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight."

The End of the 50-50 Hybrid Era

The future V8 power units will not be a straight normally-aspirated system. They will feature a hybrid component, but it will be a stark departure from the current engine rule tweaks that mandate a 46-54 power split.

"You will hear about it very soon, and it will be with a very, very minor electrification, but the main one will be the engine," Ben Sulayem revealed. "It will not be something like now, which is a 46-54 split. There will be very minimal [electric] power."

Ultimately, the decision aligns with the broader automotive market, where high-performance V8s remain a staple for premium brands. "The V8, you see it [in road cars] with Ferrari, Mercedes, Audi, Cadillac," Ben Sulayem concluded. "You see it with most of the manufacturers, and that gives you a lightweight car."