SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND / EuroWire / – The FIA has restated its commitment to bring V8 engines back to the FIA Formula One World Championship, placing power unit rules at the center of debate before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the sport needs engines that are lighter, cheaper, safer and louder. The comments extend his push for simpler Formula 1 power units that still run on sustainable fuel.
The FIA oversees Formula 1’s sporting and technical rules and has led talks with teams, power unit makers and commercial rights holders. Ben Sulayem has said V8 engines could return by 2031. He has also said 2030 remains possible if enough manufacturers support an earlier change. That timeline follows the current power unit cycle, which introduced a larger electric share and 100 percent sustainable fuel from 2026.
Formula 1 used V8 engines from 2006 through 2013 before it moved to V6 turbo hybrid units in 2014. The current championship runs with complex hybrid systems that combine combustion and electric power. The FIA’s stated direction keeps sustainable fuel in the discussion while reducing power unit complexity. The governing body has also linked the debate to car weight, cost control and the sound fans hear at circuits.
Power unit shift under review
In June, the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved changes to the 2027 and 2028 power unit rules. The update moves the balance further toward combustion output across the two seasons. The 2027 split will move to 58 percent combustion and 42 percent electric. The 2028 target will move to 60 percent combustion and 40 percent electric. Fuel flow will also rise under the approved changes.
The changes are separate from the longer term V8 discussion, but they show the governing body’s current focus on race delivery. The FIA said the updated rules support more direct competition and reduce energy management demands. The changes also keep the 2026 framework in place, including hybrid technology and sustainable fuel. Teams and manufacturers must manage the next two seasons under those approved rules.
Silverstone focus returns to engine sound
Silverstone gave the latest comments a clear setting. The British Grand Prix remains one of Formula 1’s main events and draws large crowds each season. This year’s race weekend also carries domestic interest, with five British drivers on the grid. The FIA’s message on V8 engines placed fan experience, engine sound and cost at the center of the championship’s next regulatory debate.
Formula 1 has expanded its calendar and audience in recent years, while engine rules remain a key part of its technical identity. The V8 proposal now sits beside approved short term power unit changes and the 2026 sustainable fuel mandate. Ben Sulayem has framed the issue as a governance priority for the FIA. Formula 1 and its manufacturers will continue under existing rules until any new regulation receives formal adoption.