F1 Plans Return to V8 Engines by 2031, Possibly as Early as 2030

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that Formula 1 will switch from its current 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged hybrid power units to simpler, louder V8 engines by 2031—and possibly as early as 2030. He noted that under existing regulations, the FIA has the unilateral authority to implement this change in 2031 without requiring approval from power unit manufacturers; however, an earlier implementation in 2030 would need support from at least four of the six current manufacturers. Currently, F1 power units deliver roughly half their output from the internal combustion engine and half from the electrical system, running on fully sustainable fuel. Some drivers have raised safety concerns about the requirement under new rules to "lift-and-coast" before high-speed corners to recharge the energy recovery system. Adjustments were made ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, but overall complexity continues to rise. Fans also face new concepts to grasp, such as “superclipping” and the megajoules of energy permitted during charging phases. Ben Sulayem emphasized that the goal is to reduce technical complexity while maintaining the use of sustainable fuels. He stated that the V8 is the most widely supported option due to its prevalence in road cars, whereas a V10 is not a realistic alternative. F1 last used V8 engines between 2006 and 2013; prior to that, the Cosworth V8 DFV was extensively used from the 1960s through the early 1980s. There are currently six power unit suppliers in F1: Mercedes (supplying four teams), Ferrari (three teams), Red Bull Powertrains in partnership with Ford (two teams), and Honda and Audi (one team each). General Motors plans to supply its own in-house developed engine to the Cadillac team in the future, though Cadillac currently uses Ferrari power units. Ben Sulayem confirmed that the V8 will deliver a more powerful sound, lower complexity, reduced weight, and significantly less electrification—and affirmed that the change “will definitely happen.”