Mohammed ben Sulayem says V8 engines will power F1 cars again, as early as 2030.
The move would put the sport’s governing body on a collision course with F1 and the manufacturers, but the FIA president insists that there is nothing they can do about it.
“The most popular and easiest to work with is the V8,” he is quoted as saying by RacingNews365. “You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight,” he added.
“The V8, you see it with Ferrari, Mercedes, Audi and Cadillac,” he continued, referring to their road cars. “You see it with most of the manufacturers, and that gives you a lightweight car.”
V8s were last seen in F1 in 2013, having been introduced in 2006 in a bid to curb the spending on V10s, which had been introduced in 1989.
Prior to the introduction of the V10 era, which some claim to have been the sport’s last ‘golden era’ in terms of the power and sound of F1, V8s had been a constant in the sport throughout much of its history, the Cosworth having powered drivers to 176 grand prix wins and countless titles.
This year’s move to engines powered equally by an internal combustion engine and electrics has not proved popular with fans or drivers in terms of performance, while the sound of the hybrids, first introduced in 2014, has always been an issue.
“You will hear about it very soon,” said Ben Sulayem, “it will be with a very, very minor electrification, but the main one will be the engine. It will not be something like now, which is a 46-54 split. There will be very minimal electric power.
Currently, the manufacturers appear to hold the cards, both F1 and the FIA having been keen to get more of them on board, a move which meant succumbing to their demands that the engines be more road relevant.
However, in 2031 the regulatory framework shifts, giving the FIA complete autonomy.
“It’s coming, oh yes, it is coming,” said Ben Sulayem. “At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time. In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs. That’s the regulations.
“But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone now is asking for,” he added, everyone except GM one presumes, its engine not due to power the Cadillac until 2029. “When you try to tell them they say no, but what will come, will come, and it will come back to the FIA.
“I’m targeting 2030,” he insisted. “One year before the maturity of the regulations. It will happen. They want it to happen,” he said of the manufacturers. “But let’s say the manufacturers don’t vote for it, then one more year and it will be done. It’s not a matter of, ‘do I need their support?’ No, it will be done. V8 is coming!”
Time to get the popcorn.