Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is calling for the sport to reach an agreement on its next-generation power unit regulations as soon as possible—ideally before the end of this year—as he throws his weight behind plans for significantly lighter and less complicated engines.
The conversation was sparked by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s clear wish to see Formula 1 adopt simpler and more affordable power units moving forward. Stakeholders first sat down around 12 months ago to explore what that future engine formula might look like and whether it could allow the 2026 regulations cycle to be brought forward.
Last year, talks of potentially returning to V8s or something similar were deliberately put on ice. The priority was crystal clear: everyone needed to focus entirely on delivering the tricky 2026 regulations without distraction. That commitment was crucial, as it helped secure major manufacturer entries like Audi and Honda, who have invested heavily based on the current rules.
Now that the 2026 package is locked in, however, the clock is ticking. With the extremely long development timelines involved in power unit design, Domenicali insists the entire sport must start making firm decisions on what comes next, and it needs to happen this year. Remember, work on the current regulations began all the way back in 2021.
"We cannot lose too much time because time is passing so quickly. We need to be robust enough to allow us not to be in a corner, we need to decide as soon as possible," Domenicali told Motorsport. "Of course, we're going to be together with the FIA in discussing that. But that's something that this year we need to decide what could be next."
"In this moment, to have a manufacturer that invests in Formula 1 is something incredible, which deserves our total respect," he continued. "Because in this context, you don't want to take that for granted. And let the FIA coordinate with their vision of what could be the right set of regulations that can be proposed to the manufacturer and to the teams."
"The regulations, in terms of governance, are expiring at the end of 2030. The agreement is part in that. After that, there is the possibility for the FIA to produce a set of regulations. We're going to be together on that with the FIA, for sure. And after that, it is a matter of understanding if there is the possibility to eventually anticipate it or not. That's something that will be part of the discussion we're going to have now," Domenicali added.
The 2026 regulations and a shift towards electric power have not proven popular with drivers or fans. Things can be tweaked heading into 2027, but inside the paddock, momentum is clearly building towards a return to something closer to the pre-2014 formula for 2031 onwards: more cylinders, a simplified hybrid system, and a much greater emphasis on the internal combustion engine.
"I definitely see personally–but it's up, of course, to the FIA to propose that–a sort of sustainable fuel for sure at the centre of the future, with a different balance of what could be the electrification with a strong internal combustion engine," the Italian said. "Because that's motorsport. It will allow to save a lot of kilos, to have pure racing in that respect, in terms of a lighter car, smaller cars that you can really push as much as you can. So that's going in the direction, I believe, that the purists should be happier."
If F1 can land on lighter cars, stronger combustion engines, and proper sustainable fuels, it could deliver the raw, exciting racing purists have missed for years, all while protecting the big investments that keep the grid strong.
The decisions made in the coming months will shape the sound, speed, and soul of Formula 1 for the next decade.