F1 Engines, moving towards the return of V8s
Formula 1 this year has translated onto the track one of the greatest technical revolutions of recent decades. A revolution, however, born dead, as it was based on the increased importance of electric, which did not have the expected growth a few years ago. Already in 2022, the first doubts arose, but it was too late: to avoid wasting investments, it was preferred to continue along a dead-end path. The result is clear to everyone, with ad hoc adjustments after only three races and the plan to revise the internal combustion-electric ratio to 60-40 by 2028 at the latest.
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Without openly declaring it, F1 has realized it made a misstep with the near 50-50 split for 2026. Not by chance, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing to close the current technical cycle a year early and welcome the return of turbocharged V8 engines running on sustainable fuel with minimal electrification already in 2030. The Emirati has been joined by F1 president Stefano Domenicali.
Domenicali’s words
“I agree 1000%, I have always said it. I fully support the vision of the FIA president. With sustainable fuels, lighter cars, and V8 engines, we would return to the pure essence of motorsport. It is what I have always loved,” this was his comment to L’Équipe.
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Ben Sulayem’s words
Ben Sulayem, on the matter, was categorical and already gave the arrival of V8s as certain: “It’s only a matter of time. In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without needing any vote from power unit manufacturers. But I aim to bring it forward to 2030, which everyone is now asking us for.”
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