F1 Set For V8 Comeback By 2030; FIA Signals End Of Hybrid Era

Last Updated:May 05, 2026, 15:47 IST

F1 could ditch complex hybrid engines for a V8 comeback by 2030, as FIA chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem signals a shift toward simpler, louder racing.

Just four races… four mere races were all it took for F1 to revert to basics.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that F1 is on course to move away from its current hybrid-heavy power units and return to simpler, louder V8 engines — potentially as early as 2030, and certainly by 2031.

“It’s coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time," Ben Sulayem said at the Miami Grand Prix, speaking from the paddock at Hard Rock Stadium.

Hybrid Era Already Under Pressure

F1’s latest regulations, introduced this season, split power roughly 50-50 between internal combustion and electric energy, all running on sustainable fuel.

But it’s a technical leap that has come with its own set of issues that have plagued both the racers and fans so far.

Drivers have voiced frustration over the need to “lift and coast" into corners to recharge batteries, disrupting racing flow and raising safety concerns around speed differentials. On top of it, the added complexity of “superclipping" and energy limits has left even seasoned fans scratching their heads.

The FIA has already introduced tweaks to reduce the influence of electrical power, aiming to bring the focus back to driving skill.

The result? A more open and unpredictable race in Miami, won by Kimi Antonelli after multiple lead changes.

Why V8s Are Back on the Table

For MBS, it’s all about less complexity with more spectacle.

“You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight," he said. “You hit all the boxes."

V8 engines, last used between 2006 and 2013, are remembered for their raw noise and simplicity. Under the proposed shift, they would return with sustainable fuels and only minimal electrification.

A move to V10 engines has been ruled out, with V8s seen as the most practical and widely supported option.

How The Shift Can Happen

If four of the six power unit suppliers — including names like Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull (with Ford), Honda, Audi, and incoming General Motors — agree, the change could come in 2030.

If not, the FIA can enforce it unilaterally in 2031.

Either way, Ben Sulayem is confident: “If they don’t approve it, the next year it will happen. In 2031, it’s done anyway."

(with agencies’ inputs)

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