Ben Sulayem Says F1 Could Drop Electrification for Cheaper V8s

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says momentum is growing to move away from hybrid power units in Formula 1, opening the door for a return to V8 engines powered by sustainable fuels—and without electrification.

Speaking at the British Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem said the FIA is rethinking the direction of Formula 1 power units beyond 2026, pointing to rising costs and complexity under the current hybrid regulations.

“We need to go to something new. Do we need 50% electrical power? I’m not sure,” he said. “We have to open the discussion. We still have to go for efficiency, we still have to be relevant, and we still have to have a message. But at what cost?”

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The current 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrid formula will remain in place until at least 2030, but Ben Sulayem confirmed that internal talks have begun about the next phase of engine development.

“There is a momentum,” he said. “There is a need. There is a demand now. We have to ask: what do we want? We want to race, we want competition, we want close racing, we want sound, and we want something sustainable.”

He added: “The current regulations, the power units, they are very complicated. Yes, they are very efficient, but are they really good for the business?”

Ben Sulayem suggested that a return to simpler, naturally aspirated V8 engines—equipped with fully sustainable fuel—could attract new manufacturers, reduce costs, and deliver a better spectacle without relying on electric power units.

“Why are we not going for something simpler? Why are we not going for something that gives us the same feeling of the sound, the same feeling of the power?” he said. “We are studying that with our team.”

The FIA is expected to launch formal discussions about post-2030 engine regulations in the coming year. While the 2026 rules are locked in—with a simplified hybrid layout and increased electric power—the longer-term future of electrification in Formula 1 is now up for debate.

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