FIA proposes cheaper V8 turbo hybrids for future Formula 1 rules

Formula 1 is considering a move to simpler, cheaper V8 turbo-hybrid engines from 2030 or 2031, in a bid to make cars lighter and more responsive after criticism of this year’s power units.

The FIA has sent a proposal to the six manufacturers involved in the discussions. It is a framework for negotiation, not an agreed set of rules, and the governing body declined to comment on its details.

The proposed engine would be a 2-litre to 2.3-litre V8 with a smaller turbo and a less powerful hybrid system. Its electric motor would have a maximum recovery capacity of 200kW, down from 350kW under the current rules. Around 900bhp of total power is envisaged, with the combustion engine supplying most of it.

The FIA’s stated aims include cutting 80kg from the cars’ overall weight, reducing costs and making it easier for new manufacturers to enter the sport. The engines would continue to use fully sustainable fuels, although the proposal aims to make the requirements for those fuels less complex and expensive.

The current 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines have drawn criticism over their complexity and the demands they place on energy recovery. The FIA proposal would retain both turbocharging and a hybrid element, while reducing the electric motor’s role.

Manufacturers are said to broadly accept the proposed engine architecture, but key details remain open. One option would minimise changes to existing designs; another would involve an outside manufacturer supplying a standardised base power unit for teams to customise. The BBC reports that manufacturers favour building their own engines and keeping them as a performance differentiator.

The proposal also suggests cutting the engine budget cap by half, from its current $190m a year. That figure is a starting point for talks, with concerns about how quickly teams could adapt and how they would manage work on current and future engines at the same time.

The timing of any change is linked to those discussions: current agreements among the FIA, teams and commercial rights holder run only until 2030. Talks are expected to produce a proposal for the FIA World Council to consider in December.