FIA president certain V8 engines to return to F1 by 2031

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has promised to end the ongoing 13-year hiatus of V8 power units from Formula 1 by 2031 at the latest.

The V8 was ditched for a V6 turbo-hybrid in 2014 and F1 has now entered its third regulation cycle since the electrified power units were introduced.

However, the 2026 ruleset is proving contentious because of the move towards a power unit that has a near-50:50 split between combustion and electric energy, which has significantly changed the racing with battery management being key.

There are various reasons as to why this has caused problems and just four rounds into the 2026 campaign, tweaks have been made to reduce the reliance on energy harvesting plus increase safety. 

Talks are now underway about the 2027 power unit regulations with a move towards a 60-40 split between engine and electric being mooted, ahead of the next full rules change in 2031.

“It’s coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time,” Ben Sulayem told Reuters. “In 2031, the V8, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs.

“That’s the regulations. But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone now is asking for.”

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To introduce V8s for 2030, four of the six power unit manufacturers - Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, General Motors, Audi and Red Bull - must vote in favour of the change, otherwise the FIA can force it for the following year.

This is not the first time Ben Sulayem has called for the return of the louder and more powerful engines witnessed in previous years, as 2025 saw him raise the idea of V8s coming back to F1 - last used in 2005.

But manufacturers were not in favour, particularly with it being so close to the changes for 2026, so the concept was put on the backburner to make this year’s rules a success.

Speaking about why now V8 and not V10, Ben Sulayem said: “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.”

Yet the constant involvement of power unit manufacturers is one of the reasons why the current ruleset has inherent flaws, as they were decided in 2022 when the automotive industry was set on electrification.

As a result, the championship went down that road to persuade the likes of Audi and Honda. But now with the industry no longer so keen on fully electric cars, F1’s engine suppliers are open to the idea of an increase in emphasis on combustion power once again.

Regardless, F1 and its governing body have both recently confirmed that it must no longer be dictated by the automotive industry for its next rules cycle in 2031.