FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has vowed to bring V8 power units back to Formula 1, pledging to end the 12-year absence of the popular engine format by 2031 at the latest.
The V8 era concluded in 2014, replaced by V6 turbo-hybrid power units, with F1 now deep into its third regulation cycle since the electrified era started.
However, the 2026 regulation changes have already sparked debates among drivers and fans, thanks to a near-50/50 split between combustion and electric power. The shift has reshaped the sport, with energy management becoming a defining factor in how those on the grid go racing. Just four rounds into the 2026 season, adjustments have already been made to reduce reliance on energy harvesting and improve safety.
Still, it's not enough for most drivers, and behind the scenes, discussions are already heating up around the 2027 direction of engine rules, with a possible shift toward a 60-40 combustion-to-electric split being considered ahead of the next full overhaul in 2031.
"It’s coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time," Ben Sulayem told Reuters, confirming that he's planning a move back to combustion engines. "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."
If the aim is to introduce V8s in 2030, it won’t be straightforward. Four of the six power unit manufacturers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, General Motors, Audi and Red Bull Powertrains) would need to back the change. If not, the FIA can still enforce it for 2031.
This isn’t the first time Ben Sulayem has pushed for a return to louder, simpler engines. In 2025, he floated the idea of bringing V8s back into the sport. Manufacturers, however, weren’t convinced at the time, especially with the 2026 ruleset so close on the horizon. The idea was shelved to keep focus on making the new era work.
Explaining why the push is focused on V8s rather than V10s, Ben Sulayem added, "You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight. You will hear about it very soon and it will be with a very, very minor electrification."
"I’m positive, they want it to happen. But let’s say the manufacturers don’t approve it, the next year it will happen. In 2031 it’s done anyway. It will be done. V8 is coming," he concluded.
With full EV commitment cooling across parts of the industry, suppliers are now more open to increasing the focus on combustion power once more. And, at the end of the day, as Max Verstappen has said, Formula 1 is not meant to be Formula E.