Ben Sulayem pushes V8 reset and FIA engine plan

Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Formula 1’s 2031 rules should replace the current V6 turbo-hybrids with cheaper V8s and add an FIA-appointed independent engine supplier to stop manufacturers exerting control over customer teams.

Speaking at the British Grand Prix, the FIA president described 2031 as a “blank canvas” and made clear he wants the current engine era left behind because it is “too expensive and too complicated.” He said a simpler V8 formula could cut research and development costs by around 50% while also helping the FIA hit a target of 100kg less for the car.

The independent supply idea is the most politically significant part of that plan. Ben Sulayem said the FIA wants an off-the-shelf engine, potentially from a specialist builder such as Cosworth, that any team could buy under terms controlled by the governing body rather than by rival manufacturers.

“There will be no control over the teams, A team over the B team, that's supplied with their engines,” Ben Sulayem told select media including The Race at Silverstone. He said that if the concept is affordable, “we will have one engine for the rest of the B-teams, so nobody can leverage them and tell them to 'Vote this way, or we are not going to give you a good engine'.”

He said the concept would be built around “an FIA-selected engine” and added that the governing body would police neutrality, performance and cost. Third-party supply of that kind was common before the turbo-hybrid era, but largely disappeared when Formula 1 adopted more complex and expensive power units in 2014.

Ben Sulayem’s argument is that a simpler engine formula would do more than lower bills. He said the current V6s are not only costly and complex, but also fail on sound, and he linked a lighter package directly to safety. “It's not the [F1] business, it's the lives of the drivers that are the most important,” he said.

The shape of the 2031 engine is still unsettled. Ben Sulayem said the next generation would retain hybrid power, but at a much lower level than today, with the electrical share potentially as little as 10% or 15%. He also said the FIA wants to avoid repeating the current problem of drivers lifting on straights to manage energy.

Another unresolved question is whether the V8 should be naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Ben Sulayem argued that a turbo adds weight and cost and hurts the sound, and suggested the FIA may need to choose between a turbo and a battery-heavy hybrid approach instead of trying to maximize both.

Refuelling has also been pulled into the discussion because the FIA’s lighter-car target clashes with the greater fuel demand expected from a V8. Ben Sulayem said the FIA has commissioned a study into the pros and cons, including starting fuel loads, in-race refuelling, safety and cost. He said nothing has been decided, but estimates under consideration suggest refuelling equipment and freight could cost teams around $4 million per year.

If the FIA can turn the concept into regulation, the impact would go beyond engine sound or car weight. Ben Sulayem said lower costs could encourage more teams and manufacturers to participate, claiming, “McLaren said they will do it,” while current Concorde and power unit agreements run through the end of 2030. That leaves the FIA trying to build support now for a rules reset that could redefine both F1’s technical direction and the balance of power between works teams and customers.