Stefano Domenicali says one suggested Mohammed Ben Sulayem F1 rule change makes ‘total sense’

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FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has not been shy of suggesting changes to the upcoming Formula 1 regulations, which are set to transform the sport.

F1’s new rules will come into effect in 2026 as the sport moves away from turbo hybrid engines. The new power unit will have a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, as well as the removal of the MGU-H and DRS in the rear wings.

The regulations have been met with scepticism, with Aston Martin chief Adrian Newey predicting that every team will struggle. There have been concerns raised about the driveability of the 2026 cars, with drivers not having favourable reviews from testing in the simulator.

The FIA president has been suggesting possible changes to the regulations, even before they have come into effect. Ben Sulayem previously suggested a return to V10 engines, but this was pushed back.

While it would be a welcome return for fans, given the iconic noise it produced in the early 2000s, the manufacturers were completely against the idea. Audi would be ‘finished’ if Ben Sulayem introduced V10s, as the 2026 power units are the key reason why they are joining F1.

Stefano Domenicali says Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s standard fuels suggestion makes ‘total sense’ for F1

Another change Ben Sulayem suggested was moving to standardised fuels. Described by the FIA president as ‘common sense’, a single fuel supplier would bring costs down for the teams.

On the other hand, this would create commercial problems. Ferrari and Mercedes would oppose the idea, given their lucrative sponsorships with Shell and Petronas; they will be keen to not lose that income.

While Stefano Domenicali sympathises with the teams over the ‘complicated’ issue, the F1 CEO agrees with Ben Sulayem in that standard fuels would make ‘total sense’ for the sport.

He said via The Race F1 Podcast: “Talking about fuel, the fuel is, from my perspective, it would be much easier to go like the tyres, for sure.

“Having one, doing a good tender, that is not a performance differentiator. But I understand from the other hand, there are commercial agreements with the manufacturers and the teams.

“So it’s a little bit more complicated. If in principle, it would make total sense.”

READ MORE: Everything we know about F1’s 2026 regulation changes from engines to tyres

What Stefano Domenicali thinks about Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s V8 proposal for F1

While the idea of V10 engines was rejected, Ben Sulayem is still pushing for alternative solutions. He recently suggested V8 power units with sustainable fuel, which he aims to introduce by 2029.

Domenicali also sees this as a ‘great’ change for the future, but he does not want to take away from the focus on the 2026 regulations.

He added: “I’m very happy to see that there is a good support on that, so of course, this will be together with the hybridisation and this will be important.

“Sustainable fuel, V8, I think is great, and hybridisation, is, I do believe the next step of the future.

“But I don’t want to take away the focus of next year’s generation, regulation or power unit because it would be wrong. So, let’s stay focused on what has to be developed for the next couple of years and then I think that’s the future, I agree.”