FIA Targets V8 Engine Rules Decision Within Months

Formula 1 could establish the technical rules for a potential V8 engine revival within the next few months, according to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who outlined the expected timetable during discussions surrounding the championship's future regulations. The proposal targets a possible return in 2030, although Formula 1 teams and power unit manufacturers have not yet reached an agreement.

Ben Sulayem discussed the proposal during a recent roundtable with PlanetF1.com and other selected media outlets, following his visit to Rwanda to confirm the planned African Grand Prix. The FIA is consulting teams, manufacturers and a driver as it develops a technical framework for the proposed engine formula.

Formula 1 introduced its latest power unit regulations in 2026, shifting to a near 50-50 balance between combustion and electrical power. The system has attracted criticism from drivers over the role of battery deployment in overtaking, prompting further adjustments to the regulations scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

Under the announced changes, the balance will move to 58% internal combustion power and 42% electrical power in 2027, followed by a 60-40 split in 2028. Ben Sulayem wants the FIA to consider a more substantial change for the following engine cycle.

Asked whether manufacturers had approved the V8 proposal, Ben Sulayem acknowledged that discussions remained ongoing.

"No, no, no, not yet," Ben Sulayem said. "But it will be."

The FIA president said the proposed framework had been distributed to teams and power unit manufacturers for consideration. He argued that a simpler engine design could reduce development and production costs, although the final technical specifications remain subject to consultation.

"The consultation has been a lot. The papers are with the teams. Teams are reading them.

Team principals, PUMs, power unit manufacturers. A driver has been consulted about it," Ben Sulayem said.

He also pointed to engine construction, material restrictions and reliability as important considerations. The FIA would need to establish limits that prevent manufacturers from pursuing expensive performance advantages through specialized materials while maintaining competitive fairness.

Ben Sulayem said the organization was working to ensure that the proposed formula would be practical for manufacturers to implement. He also linked engine design to wider concerns about car dimensions and weight, noting that modern Formula 1 cars have grown substantially compared with older machinery.

Formula 1 last competed with V8 engines in 2013, before switching to turbocharged V6 power units. The current proposal would therefore represent a major change from the engine architecture used throughout the championship's recent hybrid era.

Ben Sulayem expects the technical regulations for the next power unit cycle to be settled within months, giving manufacturers a clearer basis for evaluating development requirements ahead of a potential 2030 introduction.