FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Says V-8s are Part of Formula One's Sustainability Plan
admin_news
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), was jovial in the minutes following the 2026 Miami Grand Prix. "The changes we made worked," Ben Sulayem said as he sat down with Car and Driver for an interview. With how casually the FIA President spoke, you'd hardly know that moments before, he had overseen Kimi Antonelli's third consecutive celebration on the top step of the Formula 1 podium. "You can see that the level of competitiveness is much higher than it was in Australia."
While Ben Sulayem's comments ring true—the Miami Grand Prix did provide an exciting race—we're more concerned with his recent comments about bringing V-8 engines back to Formula 1. "It is happening," Ben Sulayem told Car and Driver. "But of course, consultation is also needed."
The FIA, which sets the rules and regulations governing Formula 1, recently signed its ninth Concorde Governance Agreement with the sport and its member teams, which remains in effect through 2030. "In 2031, the FIA doesn't need any voting," Ben Sulayem said to C/D, suggesting that the FIA could strong-arm a return to F1 without actually saying as much. "But it's not about that. It's about listening to the manufacturers."
To Ben Sulayem, reintroducing V-8s to Formula 1 is not an if; it is a when. The FIA President views the return as vital for the future of the sport. "I believe, for the sake of sustainability when it comes to the business, sustaining the business, the price, the efficiency, the lightweight, the sound for the fans, I think you are ticking many boxes here," Ben Sulayem said to C/D.
Bigger Engines, Smaller Batteries
Returning to the V-8 means increasing the displacement, but we're not talking about high-displacement engines similar to GM's new 6.7-liter LS6. "First of all, you have to get the power. You can't get the power with less than a 2.5 or a 2.6, so you're talking about 2.6 to 3.0 liters. Then, having a 10 percent [energy split], you will get to the 880 horsepower, but then the car [combustion engine] will be about 650 horsepower." Aside from giving out what he expects the engine size to be, Ben Sulayem's comments to Car and Driver also revealed what he expects the hybrid split to be, with the batteries taking a much less significant role than they do right now.
Since the engines won't be huge, they'll need to rev quite high to achieve those power figures, but Ben Sulayem doesn't want them revving too high. "Because one thing we have to also be careful about is, where do you get the power from if you have a small displacement? That's the heads and revs, so if you're a bit high, it will be annoying to young kids. So you don't want it to be over 15 and a half to 16,000 rpm."
'This Is Not Coming out of Nowhere'
According to Ben Sulayem, his comments surrounding V-8's are born from real discussions happening behind the scenes between the FIA, Formula One Management, and the teams. "This is not coming out of nowhere. This is coming after a lot of consultation with the other PUMs (Power Unit Manufacturers), and to have the super majority in it, we will have to bring it one year earlier, I'm saying, not to bring it or not to bring it. No, it's about one year."
Part of Ben Sulayem's insistence on reviving the V-8 stems from the costs surrounding the current 1.6-liter V-6, which he feels is too high. "I believe when we introduce it, I feel even McLaren will build their own engine," Ben Sulayem said to C/D.
"Why are they going to others to do it [build an engine]?" Ben Sulayem asked. "It is a complicated unit," Ben Sulayem said, answering his own question. "They said, 'We'd be better to go and buy what is available, than to go and introduce a new engine.'"
"But then you will see the competitiveness between them. You [the FIA] say, 'These are the rules.' We just put a ceiling for it and make sure they don't exceed the R&D, except what is allocated to them with the cost cap."
The decision may seem rash at first glance; aside from the United States, most other countries are electrifying their passenger fleets at increasing rates. But several automakers, including those involved in Formula 1, are still working on V-8 engines for their passenger vehicles. General Motors introduced the LS6, a new 6.7-liter V-8, as recently as March. Mercedes-Benz recently launched a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 with a flat-plane crank design, and of course, Ferrari continues to use eight-cylinder engines in several models. Even McLaren launched a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 with its W1 hypercar, lending credence to Ben Sulayem's comments about McLaren potentially becoming a works team.
Ben Sulayem's comments aren't binding, but the FIA President's words carry considerable weight, and we expect to hear more about his plans to reintroduce V-8s in the near future.
➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.
You Might Also Like
