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FIA proposal points to turbo-hybrid V8 engines for future Formula 1 rules

A framework sent to Formula 1 manufacturers sets out a simpler engine for 2030 or 2031, but its specifications and start date remain subject to discussion.

NewsJaws DeskEditorial desk

Published 27 Oct 2026, 17:51 GMT2 min read

The FIA headquarters at 8 Place de la Concorde in Paris. — File photograph of the FIA headquarters at 8 Place de la Concorde, Paris, in 2011. Aviator12, FIA Headquarters (resized and converted to WebP). CC BY-SA 3.0.Image source Image licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

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The FIA has sent Formula 1's six manufacturers a proposal for simpler turbo-hybrid V8 engines that could be introduced in 2030 or 2031, BBC Sport reported. The framework would change the sport's power units and aims to cut their cost, but it has not become a rule.

The BBC said multiple sources within F1 gave it details of the document. An FIA spokesperson declined to discuss it. The framework follows individual talks with engine manufacturers and replaces an earlier idea of returning to engines without turbochargers, according to the BBC.

How the proposed V8 would work

The proposed engine would have a capacity of 2 to 2.3 litres, a smaller turbocharger operating at lower boost pressure and a less powerful hybrid system, the BBC reported. Its electric motor would have a recovery capacity of 200kW, compared with 350kW under the current rules. The proposal allocates 100kW for continuous use and another 100kW for an overtaking mode.

Total output would be around 900 brake horsepower, with the combustion engine providing the power beyond the electric contribution, according to the BBC. F1 would continue using fully sustainable fuels, while seeking simpler fuel requirements to reduce production costs. The proposal also aims to make the cars lighter.

For context, F1 used 2.4-litre V8s from 2006 through 2013 before introducing turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 hybrids in 2014, Supanet reported. The new proposal would therefore bring back the V8 configuration while keeping both turbocharging and electric power.

What manufacturers and regulators must decide

The BBC described two possible routes for manufacturers: adapting existing engine designs or using a common baseline power unit designed by an external supplier, with some scope for customisation. It reported that manufacturers want to design and build their own units and keep engine performance as a point of competition.

A reported suggestion to halve the current $190 million annual engine budget cap is a starting point for talks, the BBC said. Any limit would have to account for manufacturers developing today's engines while preparing their replacements, as well as the effect on their workforces. Discussions are expected to continue over the coming weeks, with a proposal intended for the FIA World Council in December. Neither the specifications nor the 2030 or 2031 start year has been approved.