Formula 1 V8 return pushed for 2030 by Mohammed Ben Sulayem
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 21, 2026
V8 push
FIA President Ben Sulayem wants Formula 1 to bring back V8 engines in 2030, a year earlier than previously expected, and he says the plan fits the series’ push for simpler, lighter and cheaper cars. Ben Sulayem said a return to V8 engines would restore the engine sound many fans miss and cut the complexity that has drawn criticism around the current hybrid formula. He also said the proposed formula would be cheaper to produce, easier to produce and less complex than the current direction. The timing gives the sport little room to move. Ben Sulayem said new regulations have to be finalized soon if Formula 1 is going to meet a 2030 start, and he expects an update on the V8 framework within a few months. The broader idea is still at an early stage, but the FIA president has made clear where he wants the series to go. Formula 1 is already using a new power unit formula introduced this season, and the next step would mark another major turn in engine direction if the V8 plan gets enough backing.
Engine roadmap
The V8 push does not stand alone. Formula 1’s engine rules are already set to shift from a 50/50 split to 58/42 in 2027 and then 60/40 in 2028, changes designed to move the championship more toward internal combustion power. Those steps show that the FIA has already started to redirect the series before any V8 comeback arrives. Ben Sulayem’s comments build on that path, with the governing body looking for a package that is simpler to build and easier to manage than the current hybrid setup. The FIA says the current formula is too complex, and that criticism has centered on the idea that the racing can feel artificial. Ben Sulayem framed the proposed V8 direction as a cleaner and more familiar answer to that problem. He has said the sport should not lock itself into a proposal that cannot work in the real world, which keeps the discussion tied to practicality as much as performance. That matters because the timeline is already tight. The sport is trying to line up the next rules cycle with a 2030 target, so the direction of the package has to be clear soon. For now, the V8 concept sits alongside the existing engine roadmap rather than replacing it, but the new split in 2027 and 2028 shows the sport is already moving toward a less hybrid-heavy future.
Approval process
Any V8 return will need broad support before it can move forward. The plan needs backing from at least four of the six power unit manufacturers, and consultation with teams, team principals, power unit manufacturers and drivers is ongoing. That leaves the FIA in a familiar position, trying to balance technical ambition with the political reality of engine rules. Ben Sulayem said the federation will not present a proposal that is not technically workable or practically workable, which puts a premium on agreement before the framework advances. The overall V8 structure has not yet been agreed, and the next stage appears to depend on how quickly the parties can settle on the details. One of those details may be turbocharging. Reports said manufacturers want the V8 concept to include turbocharging, which would shape the package if the plan keeps moving forward. Ben Sulayem also said he believes the next power unit cycle can be finalized soon, a sign that the FIA wants the discussion to move from concept to decision without a long delay. The sport has a narrow window to lock in the next rules cycle, and the V8 idea will only survive if the manufacturers, teams and drivers can settle on a formula that works for all sides.
