FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has shelved his proposal for a Formula 1 engine overhaul after failing to win support from the sport’s leading manufacturers.
Ben Sulayem had been pushing for the reintroduction of 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engines with a small degree of hybrid assistance from 2029. The move was designed to appeal to traditional fans while keeping Formula 1’s modern sustainability goals in play.
A formal meeting had been scheduled for next Thursday to discuss the plan. However, senior sources told BBC Sport that Ben Sulayem cancelled the gathering on Friday after it became clear that agreement would not be possible.
Formula 1’s governance structure requires a majority of engine manufacturers to back changes to future power unit rules. Without such support, the FIA cannot move forward with revisions, meaning the current framework will remain in place.
F1 is already set to introduce brand-new power unit regulations in 2026, which are due to last until the end of the 2030 season. These rules will focus on greater electrical power, fully sustainable fuels, and an overall reduction in costs.
Ben Sulayem’s proposal followed an earlier attempt to revive V10 engines, which had been rejected in April. That plan was dismissed partly due to cost concerns and partly because of the sport’s commitment to align with global sustainability targets.
The latest idea of 2.4-litre V8 hybrids was seen by some as a potential compromise, blending the visceral sound and excitement of older eras with modern hybrid efficiency. But manufacturers, already heavily invested in developing engines for 2026, expressed reluctance to pursue yet another regulation shift so soon.
Industry insiders say manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull Powertrains are keen to avoid costly diversions from their current long-term plans. Introducing a new engine formula in 2029 would also mean a shortened lifecycle for the 2026 power units, undermining the stability of the sport’s technical roadmap.
While many fans have expressed nostalgia for the roaring V8 era, environmental pressures and rising R&D costs make such a return increasingly unlikely. Formula 1 has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable innovation, and any backtracking could draw criticism from sponsors and governments.
Ben Sulayem’s cancellation of the meeting is being seen as an acknowledgment of the difficulty of pushing through dramatic changes without widespread support. For now, attention will remain focused on the successful rollout of the 2026 regulations, which aim to attract new manufacturers such as Audi while keeping costs under control.
Although the V8 plan has been shelved, debate about the long-term future of Formula 1 engines is unlikely to disappear. The balance between performance, sustainability, and spectacle will remain a central question for the sport in the years to come.