FIA president puts fresh timeline on V8 return decision for F1

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that he hopes the regulatory framework for a return to V8 engines in Formula 1 will be agreed upon within a few months. The discussions follow driver criticism of the 2026 power units, with Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Lando Norris raising concerns over heavy battery reliance and energy-management demands.

Ben Sulayem clarified that while he previously claimed V8s would return by 2030, no formal agreement has been reached yet. Consultation documents have been distributed to teams and power unit manufacturers, with financial and technical factors such as material restrictions, production simplicity, and research and development costs still being evaluated.