The FIA is weighing a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines with reduced hybrid components for the 2031 regulations cycle, a move championed by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to slash costs and weight. The proposal includes offering a standardized third-party power unit — akin to the old Ford Cosworth model — that customer teams could lease, effectively ending the current manufacturer-dominated supply chain where Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull Ford Powertrains control both works and satellite outfits.

Ben Sulayem framed the shift as a direct response to governance concerns raised by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who has criticized Red Bull's dual-team structure and Mercedes' failed bid for an Alpine stake. "There will be no control over the teams, A-team over the B-team," Ben Sulayem said, arguing affordable spec engines would prevent manufacturers from leveraging supply deals for political influence. Domenicali echoed that "white label" engines would insulate the sport from fluctuating OEM commitment.

The current Concorde Agreement expires after 2030, giving the FIA unilateral authority to impose the new formula, though alienating the six registered power unit manufacturers — including incoming Audi and General Motors — carries significant risk. Audi reportedly insists on retaining a turbocharger, standing alone among OEMs. A supermajority could accelerate the V8 switch to 2030, but Mercedes has already signaled a desire to drop from three customer teams to two, while McLaren shows little appetite for building its own power unit operation.

If implemented, the regulation would reshape F1's competitive hierarchy by decoupling engine supply from team ownership, forcing manufacturers to compete on chassis and operations rather than proprietary hybrid dominance. The 2031 deadline gives OEMs limited runway to adapt, and the FIA's willingness to proceed without consensus will test whether the sport's newest automotive partners view F1 as a marketing platform or a technology incubator.