FIA Confirms V8 Return to Formula 1 for 2030

Overview

• FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced at the Kigali launch for a new African Grand Prix on Tuesday that Formula 1 will target a return to V8‑based power units in 2030 and link the debut to the Rwandan race.
• Ben Sulayem said the 2030 package would make cars about 80 kilograms lighter and cut engine research and development costs by at least half, remarks he made at the public event and repeated to multiple outlets.
• The FIA president said he has the backing of Formula 1 management and manufacturers for a 2030 start, but no formal vote or published manufacturer commitments have been released to confirm that timetable.
• The announcement responds to criticism of the 2026 50:50 ICE‑to‑battery power split, which drivers and fans said made cars heavier, quieter, and more dependent on lap‑by‑lap battery management that reduced on‑track delivery.
• Technical rule writing and formal approval remain to be completed, with the World Motor Sport Council and manufacturers likely to shape the final engine displacement, electrical share, cost caps and a possible 2031 fallback if a 2030 vote is not secured.