Ben Sulayem adamant: V8 engines will return to Formula 1

If you’re missing the spine-tingling acoustic roar of Formula 1’s golden era, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has some music for your ears.

In a move that has sent a jolt of excitement through the paddock, the governing body’s chief is confidently predicting a return to V8 engines, potentially bringing back the thunder to the grid as early as 2030.

While the current V6 turbo-hybrids were designed to keep the sport "road relevant," their extreme complexity and weight have been a point of contention. But according to Ben Sulayem, the tide is turning back toward high-revving simplicity and soul-stirring sound.

The return of the roar

The vision isn't just about nostalgia; it’s about practical performance. Ben Sulayem believes the V8 is the perfect sweet spot for the modern era, especially when paired with sustainable fuels.

While he has ruled out a V10 revival because manufacturers no longer produce them for the road, he sees the V8 as the ultimate universal donor.

“The most popular and easiest to work with is the V8. You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight,” Ben Sulayem stated enthusiastically, according to RacingNews365.

“The V8, you see it [in road cars] with Ferrari, Mercedes, Audi, Cadillac. You see it with most of the manufacturers, and that gives you a lightweight car.”

For fans who have grown weary of the current 50/50 power split between batteries and fuel, the President’s plan offers a radical shift in philosophy.

“You will hear about it very soon, and it will be with a very, very minor electrification, but the main one will be the engine. It will not be something like now, which is a 46-54 split. There will be very minimal [electric] power,” he added.

Taking back the reins

While the Power Unit Manufacturers (PUMs) currently hold significant sway over technical regulations, Ben Sulayem is making it clear that the FIA is ready to reclaim the driver’s seat.

Under the current framework, the sport’s sanctioning body gains total autonomy over the rules by 2031, but the President is eyeing an even faster timeline.

“It’s coming; oh yes, it is coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time,” he predicted. “In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs [power unit manufacturers]. That’s the regulations.”

However, Ben Sulayem isn't content to wait for the clock to run out. He’s pushing for a consensus that would move the debut up by twelve months.

“But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone now is asking for. When you try to tell them [the manufacturers] they say no, but what will come, will come, and it [the power] will come back to the FIA,” he said.

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Despite potential pushback from corporate boardrooms, the President remains undeterred. He believes the demand for a lighter, louder, and more visceral Formula 1 is becoming impossible to ignore.

“I'm targeting 2030. One year before the maturity [of the regulations]. It will happen,” he asserted.

“They [the PUMs] want it to happen. But let's say the manufacturers don't [vote for it], then one more year and it will be done. It's not a matter of, 'Do I need their support?' No, it will be done. V8 is coming.”

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