FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed V8 engines will return to Formula 1 by 2031 at the latest, ending a 13-year hiatus since the V6 turbo-hybrid era began in 2014. The FIA chief vows the governing body will have the power to implement the change without needing manufacturer approval if necessary.

The current 2026 power unit regulations have proven contentious due to their near-50:50 split between combustion and electric energy, fundamentally altering racing dynamics. Ben Sulayem believes V8s offer better sound, less complexity, and lightweight design compared to previous V10 configurations that were last used in 2005.

For V8s to debut in 2030, four of the six current power unit manufacturers—Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, General Motors, Audi, and Red Bull—must approve the change. If manufacturers resist, the FIA can enforce the regulation for 2031. The return reflects F1's shift away from being dictated by automotive industry priorities.