Mohammed Ben Sulayem Abandons 2029 V8 Engine Push After Manufacturer Opposition

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has shelved his latest bid to change Formula 1’s engine regulations after failing to win support from manufacturers.

Ben Sulayem had been pushing for a return to 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engines with limited hybrid assistance from 2029. A meeting was scheduled for next Thursday to discuss the proposal, but senior F1 sources claim the FIA president cancelled it on Friday after concluding there was no chance of consensus.

While there was no blanket opposition to the idea of V8s, manufacturers disagreed on key details, including how much of the power unit’s output should come from hybrid systems, whether a turbocharger should be included, and the timing of any change.

It marks the second time in six months that Ben Sulayem’s push for a return to traditional engine formats has been rejected. His earlier proposal for V10 engines was dismissed at a meeting during the Bahrain Grand Prix, where manufacturers insisted hybrid technology and sustainable fuels were non-negotiable.

The 2026 power unit rules, already agreed, will retain the 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrid architecture but increase the electrical contribution to around 50% of total output, up from the current 20%. They will also mandate fully sustainable fuels.

At the time of the Bahrain meeting, the FIA said it was “firmly committed” to the 2026 regulations, adding: “Electrification will always be a part of any future considerations, and the use of sustainable fuel will be an imperative.”

Despite this, Ben Sulayem continued to lobby for naturally aspirated engines with minimal hybridisation. Some manufacturers were open to a reduced-hybrid V8 concept, but not enough to secure the majority needed under F1’s governance rules.

Its believed that the FIA president was moving “too fast, too soon to get everyone on side.”

Ford CEO Jim Farley underlined the stance of the carmakers, stating: “Ford is very committed to partial electrification for performance.” Honda, Mercedes, and Audi have also been vocal in their backing of hybrid power.

With the current governance agreements running until 2030, Ben Sulayem is now expected to pause his efforts until 2031, when the FIA could, in theory, impose new rules unilaterally. But doing so risks alienating manufacturers, many of whom see hybrid technology as central to their participation in Formula 1.

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