Formula 1 to bring back V8s by the 2030s

Long-time fans of Formula 1 know that part of the thrill comes from the sheer aural pleasure that you hear, whether you’re there in person or behind a screen. The insane V12 and V10s were screaming banshees that just hardwired you to stare, and the V8s of the 2006 to 2013 era were probably the last time people heard these open cockpit, single-seater cars scream as loud as they shifted to the more hushed, hybrid turbo V6s that we still have until today.

While they’re not as bad in person, they lack the drama that the higher cylinder count motors have. This is why talks about bringing back V8s have been a thing for a while. Most recently, at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, announced that it will ensure that the change will come at least by 2031, possibly even 2030.

He says that the goal is to simplify, as there have been plenty of complaints regarding the current regulation’s power split between electrical and ICE power, with issues such as superclipping and battery management hindering the true potential of the drivers. Of course, sustainability and electrification still have to be taken into account, so Sulayem says that these engines will still run on sustainable fuels and still have a degree of electrification.

At the moment, Sulayem says that the FIA can force the regulation changes by 2031, but the change can happen a year earlier in 2030 if the majority of the six engine manufacturers vote in favor of it. At the moment, the current powertrain manufacturers are Mercedes, Ferrari, Ford (via Red Bull Powertrains), Honda, Audi, and, eventually, General Motors for its Cadillac F1 team.

Would you be excited to see Formula 1 return to higher cylinder counts, and do you think the simpler engine design would incentivize more manufacturers to return as a power unit supplier or works team?

^{Photos from Honda and Julian Panlilio}