A return to V8 engines in Formula 1 may stir nostalgia, but how realistic is it under the sport’s current push for sustainability and hybrid innovation?
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed that V8 engines are now being favoured as the basis for Formula 1’s next engine regulations, marking a shift from previous discussions around a potential return to V10 power units.
Speaking at the British Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem emphasised, “To us, the V8 is happening. With the teams now, I’m very optimistic, happy about it. FOM [Formula One Management] are supportive, the teams are realising it is the right way.”
He also noted the technical and logistical timeline, suggesting that “hopefully by 2029 we have something there,” while acknowledging the challenges of developing sustainable fuels to accompany the change, stating, “the fuel is also very expensive, and we have to be very careful with that.”
This new focus on V8s follows earlier comments made by Ben Sulayem in February, when he suggested Formula 1 should explore alternatives to the current engines – including a revival of the iconic V10s.
In an Instagram post after the 10-team launch in London, he said, “While we look forward to the introduction of the 2026 regulations on chassis and power units, we must also lead the way on future technological motorsport trends. We should consider a range of directions, including the roaring sound of the V10 running on sustainable fuel.”
Ben Sulayem has been pushing for V10s and V8s
Grand Prix Photo
Regardless of what the future of F1 engines will be, both statements revealed an almost universal reality: the current hybrid formula, and the new one starting next year, are not favoured and face a very uncertain future in spite of what F1’s engine manufacturers want.
The issues with V6s
The current 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrids, introduced in 2014, are engineering marvels, but they’ve never been universally loved or appreciated.
The hybrid V6 units achieve thermal efficiency of over 50%, which is unheard of in motor sport or road cars. This means more than half the fuel’s energy is turned into usable power, while most road car engines only manage 30–35%.
They are compact, lightweight and insanely powerful, delivering over 1000 horsepower from just 1.6 litres of displacement.
They are also incredibly reliable and designed to run near the limits of RPM, temperature, and compression for thousands of miles: each driver can go a full season using just three units in a 24-race calendar.
Importantly for the manufacturers, the tech developed in F1 hybrids feeds directly into advanced EV and hybrid road car development.
That has been a key component in the likes of Audi and Honda committing to the rules being introduced in 2026.
However, for all its upsides, the current engines have not won the fans or drivers over.
Hybrid V6s have not convinced most fans or drivers
Grand Prix Photo
Fans rarely care about thermal efficiency when watching a race, and the hybrid V6s don’t sound exciting, particularly compared to the piercing shriek of V8s or V10s.
These power units are also extremely complex, which makes them harder to explain or appreciate for casual fans.
And perhaps more importantly, developing and maintaining hybrid engines costs hundreds of millions per cycle.
“R&D is reaching $200 million (£148m), and the engine is costing approximately $1.8m to $2.1m (£1.3m-1.5m),” Ben Sulayem said at Silverstone.
All of the above are crucial factors in making the current V6s – and the next generation as well – feel like a formula whose days could be numbered.
The case for V8s
There are some compelling arguments in favour of a return to V8 engines in Formula 1, especially from the fan and driver perspective, if not for the broader industry trends which will still favour a more road-relevant formula.
The glorious high-revving scream of a naturally aspirated V8 is unmatched, with fans at the track often citing engine sound as a core part of the experience, something that’s been lacking in the hybrid era.
Standalone V8s are also mechanically simpler than the current V6 hybrids, with no ERS, no MGU-H, or complex energy recovery systems. That could translate into a 90–100 kg weight reduction, helping the agility and balance of the cars, something that drivers have been missing in recent years.
V8s were last seen in F1 in 2013
Grand Prix Photo
The mechanically simpler V8s could also dramatically cut costs, especially for new or independent engine manufacturers. A return to V8s could open the door for smaller engine suppliers or teams without deep OEM backing.
V8s could run on synthetic or biofuels, aligning with F1’s net-zero goal without the need for electric components.
There’s also an emotional and historical appeal in a return to V8s, not to mention how drivers tend to prefer naturally aspirated engines for their predictable throttle response and linear power delivery.
Without hybrid systems, there’d also be fewer variables for engine makers to optimise, which might reduce the performance gap between them.
That is of particular significance amid fears that the 2026 performance spread could be too big, resulting in huge gaps between the teams with good and less good engines.
The downsides of V8s
Despite all its pros, it’s not all good news regarding a possible return to V8s.
For starters, even if V8s ran on synthetic fuels, they’d still be seen as less efficient and less progressive than hybrids or future electric/hydrogen options, and the optics of reverting to ‘old-school’ engines could harm the credibility of the series and, more importantly, of the manufacturers involved.
A return to V8s would also invalidate the 2026 regulations that manufacturers have already invested hundreds of millions into.
V8s have lower thermal efficiency and are no longer road-relevant in a world moving toward EVs, meaning they are not aligned with the direction of the global automotive industry.
Mercedes, Audi, Honda, Ford and GM are in F1 to develop relevant tech—hybrids, EVs, and sustainable fuels. Take that away, and some may exit, shrinking the engine supply base and damaging long-term investment.
How likely is a return to V8s?
Back in April, the FIA and all manufacturers reaffirmed their backing for the 2026 hybrid V6 framework, emphasising electrification and sustainable fuels.
The formula has been key in the likes of Honda and Audi entering (or re-entering) F1, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warned earlier this year that the series would look silly to backtrack on its plans to stick to hybrids until at least 2030.
Friday's summit in Bahrain between the FIA, teams and manufacturers may have been dressed up as a gathering to discuss the idea of a return to V10 engines. But make no mistake: they're crunch talks as the 2026 rules continue to create problems, says Mark Hughes
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Mark Hughes
While there are many pros in a possible return to V8s, going down that road would fundamentally be at odds with the direction F1 is heading and with what manufacturers actually want.
While V8s can run on sustainable fuels, that is far from the middle ground engine suppliers would accept as viable, considering their road car-based agendas.
Commercially, technically and politically, car manufacturers are and will be one of the pillars that underpin modern F1, and bending to their desires is set to be an inevitable part of keeping the championship relevant and attractive.
While there is open discussion and a measure of enthusiasm from F1 leadership about a potential return to V8 (or V10) engines, the practical likelihood of this happening before 2030 is extremely low.
A return to V8s might be a dream for fans and drivers, but there’s a huge mountain of engineering, finance, and politics still to climb before that dream becomes a reality.
