FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told the Daily Mirror that Formula One will revert to V8 engines by the 2030 or 2031 season, with the FIA able to impose the change without manufacturer votes from 2031 but aiming for 2030. The move comes after this season's new engine rules, which Ben Sulayem called the most significant overhaul in over a decade, with power now split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion on fully sustainable fuel. According to the Daily Mirror's interview, the current power units are enormously expensive for manufacturers and customers, and are heavy due to substantial batteries.
The aim of the change is less complication, and he noted that the MGU-H, though serving a purpose, provided no real-world benefit to manufacturers. Max Verstappen has said the latest cars are not enjoyable to drive, comparing them to Formula E, while Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration at the complexity, according to the Daily Mirror. Ben Sulayem first raised the idea of a V8 or V10 return on sustainable fuels last year, but manufacturers invested in the new hybrids rejected it.
Now, with sustainable fuels a priority, they are more open. 6-litre with the MGU-K. V8s are the favoured option, though the new units will not be a simple normally-aspirated design.
Ben Sulayem said a V10 is impractical since no F1 manufacturer produces V10 road cars, while the V8 is popular, easy to work with, and offers sound, light weight, and less complexity. Exact specifications and manufacturer reactions remain unclear.