‘High-level’ F1 sources now believe teams have ‘no desire’ to back one upcoming major rule change

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Formula 1 is set to take on new regulations for the 2026 season, which include a simplified hybrid power unit.

The new engines were designed to bring in new manufacturers such as Audi and Ford, while Cadillac owner General Motors will also be providing their own power unit from 2028.

But amid F1’s global popularity and a pivot towards sustainable fuels, there has been a growing movement led by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to make a switch back to V8 engines by 2030.

Ben Sulayem has earned the support of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who believes a switch to V8 engines would make ‘total sense’, but a recent summit at the Italian Grand Prix put a back burner on any plans, according to a report from The Race.

F1 teams now have ‘no desire’ to back switch to V8 engines by 2030

The summit that took place at Monza reportedly involved Ben Sulayem making a proposition to switch to V8 engines as early as 2029 or 2030, with it incorporating similar technology to the 2009/2013 KERS engines.

However, the report from The Race has indicated that ‘high-level sources’ believe a change for 2029 or 2031 was not feasible due to the situation manufacturers are facing globally.

It cited the combination of the “impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, governments flip-flopping on electric car legislation, and a slowdown in the Chinese economy have weighed heavy on manufacturer balance sheets” as limitations.

This meant there was “no desire” among those involved in F1 to fund dual investment projects for a turbo hybrid that would be used from 2026 onwards and a V8 engine.

READ MORE: F1 2026 grid: all confirmed driver line-ups and rumours

Will F1 ever return to louder V8 engines?

The sound of the engines is often associated with F1 and the switch from V8 engines in 2013 to hybrids from 2014 effectively changed that forever.

F1 tried to improve the sound by repositioning the wastegate exhausts in 2016, but after various teams began to exploit it, that was changed from 2022.

Nelson Piquet Jr believes F1 has got the priorities wrong and instead should be focusing on making the wheel-to-wheel racing better on track when speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast.

“Unfortunately, the older generation will always think that racing cars are noisy. The younger generation prefers them to be banging wheels at every turn, changing positions, fighting for the race, rather than whether it will make noise or not. This is the most important thing for many generations, not simply the noise the car makes,” said Piquet.

For now it looks like F1 will continue to embrace hybrid technology that offers some road relevancy instead of a solution that pivots more towards thinking about the show aspect of the sport.