Formula 1’s noisy future: V8 hybrids and sustainable fuel, says Domenicali

Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has outlined a bold vision for the sport’s long-term engine regulations, one that could see the sport return to the roar of V8 engines – this time married to hybrid technology and powered by fully sustainable fuels.

The Italian’s mission statement comes amid a growing debate about whether F1 should eventually move away from the complex and costly turbo-hybrid era that has defined Grand Prix racing since 2014.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has already voiced his preference for a simpler, more visceral engine formula, and now Domenicali has added his weight behind the shift.

Fan Support and Sustainable Innovation

Domenicali’s comments were sparked by a YouTube community poll conducted by website The Race, where 86% of respondents favored V8 or V10 engines with sustainable fuel, compared to just 7% who supported retaining the current turbo hybrids.

Reflecting on the results, Domenicali was delighted by the overwhelming vote in favor the V8 hybrid platform.

“That is a lot of support. But I recall what I said two years ago on that: and you may recall that is written, and is recorded. That was exactly what I was saying,” he said on The Race F1 podcast.

“So I'm very happy to see that there is a good support on that. So of course, this will be together with the hybridisation, and this is very important.

“Sustainable fuel, [and a] V8, I think is great. And hybridisation is, I do believe, the next step of the future.”

However, he cautioned against shifting focus too soon.

“But I don't want to take away the focus of next year's generation of regulation or power unit, because that will be wrong,” he noted. “So let's stay focused on what has to be developed in the next couple of years. And then I think that that's the future. I agree.”

Cutting Costs, Keeping Relevance

Another key part of Domenicali’s vision concerns simplifying components that add cost without adding much to the racing spectacle. He pointed to the gearbox as an example of an area where standardisation – an idea promoted by Ben Sulayem – could make sense.

"We know what is a gearbox," he explained. "But the new generation consider that as a bracket or some mechanical component that they don't know what it is for.

"[The] gearbox, to be fair, is not any more relevant in terms of performance because, at the end of the day, the different gearboxes are in the range of a 0.001s delta. The only problem is reliability and the problem is cost. So would you agree to move in this direction?

"I would say, it is logical to think of components that are not so relevant for the technological aspect of F1, then the details can be discussed.

"You can say the same thing for batteries, but some manufacturers can see that as a performance differentiation.

"I think that the right thing to do is to try to have a holistic approach to understand what is relevant in terms of technology to apply to today and to the future. That should be the way to tackle all these elements in the future."

Hydrogen: Still a Distant Prospect

While sustainable fuels and hybridisation appear central to F1’s trajectory, there has also been chatter about hydrogen as a long-term alternative. Domenicali, however, believes that path is still far off.

"This could be [a possibility], but not in the next 10 years. It is too far away," he said. "There are also safety complexities with regards to racing. We don't have to forget that motorsport is motorsport, it is not mobility.

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"Of course, hydrogen is a point of discussion, but there are too many elements.

"[It is] too premature to have a racing approach to that technology. It is too complicated and is not viable to take that risk today, because it is too early."

For Domenicali, the task is to balance F1’s high-tech credentials with the visceral thrill that fans and manufacturers alike crave.

A sustainable V8 hybrid formula would, he believes, keep F1 at the cutting edge while reconnecting it with its noisy, emotional past.

And judging by the chorus of support from fans – and the backing of the FIA president – his vision could well be the foundation of Formula 1’s future.

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