According to Crash.net, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has provided an update regarding the timeline for Formula 1's planned V8 return in 2030, stating that an agreement could be reached in a few months. The FIA president has repeatedly pledged throughout the season to bring V8 engines back to the series, following what he described as the disastrous introduction of the 2026 power unit regulations.
Speaking at the Miami Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem previously noted that teams were open to the V8 return. While the overall framework is still awaiting agreement, a recent report indicates that manufacturers are pushing for the new V8 formula to incorporate turbocharging. Addressing select media in a roundtable, Ben Sulayem explained that the consultation process has been extensive, noting that the relevant papers are currently with the teams.
When you make it simpler, and then you make it half the price, you know, the R&D doesn’t just go down by half, but then the simplicity that comes with it means production can take less time,
“The papers are with the team,” Ben Sulayem said, as reported by Planet F1. “Teams are reading them. Team principals, PUMs, power unit manufacturers. A driver has been consulted about it.”
The FIA president highlighted the practical benefits of the proposed engine, emphasizing simplicity and cost reduction. “When you make it simpler, and then you make it half the price, you know, the R&D doesn’t just go down by half, but then the simplicity that comes with it means production can take less time,” he explained. He also detailed technical considerations, mentioning that the block would serve reliability purposes, power output would need to be limited to control costs regarding expensive materials, and the cars would feature the return of engine sound alongside a very light build.
Emphasizing the feasibility of the proposal, Ben Sulayem added that engine builders could confirm the production timeframe. He expressed pride in the single-seaters team at the FIA for their workload, reassuring that they would not present teams with anything unachievable. “In a few months, hopefully [an agreement will be reached],” he concluded. “Of course, you push the teams and the PUMs to come back to you, and we will wait for them to come back to us.”
