FIA President Ben Sulem Confident F1V8 will return to engines

FIA President Mohammad Ben Sulem reiterated his support for Formula 1 to enter very cheap V8 engines as a 2029 season and also weighed the possibility of the 12th team joining the grid.

Talking to Fleet Street Journalists in the last weekend British Grand Prix In Silverstone, Ben Sulem urged the series to enter a cheap engine formula. As soon as it is viable and thinks that this step for 2029 may be for 2029 – ambitious 2026 power units three years after the onset of power units.

“For us, V8 is happening,” said Ben Sulem. “Now with teams, I am very optimistic, happy about it. FOM (Formula One Management) is assistant, teams realize that this is the right way.

“We need to do it soon. You need three years, so hopefully we have something there by 2029, but fuel is also very expensive, and we have to be very careful with it. The broadcasts are very expensive.

“Current engine is so complex, you have no idea, and it’s expensive. R&D is reaching $ 200 million, and the engine costs around $ 1.8m to $ 2.1m, so if we go directly with V8, let’s see.”

Ben Sulem’s comments largely reflect people whom he and other FIA officials made this season earlier this season, when led A. due to the President’s call for cheap engines, A. Meeting with the construction of various current and future power units In Bahrain.

The main conclusion from that meeting was that the F1 should also have a permanent fuel along with electrification in its future engine regulations, with accurate formulas with suitable channels to be discussed later.

There has been no formal discussion on future power units since the meeting of Bahrain, which requires the support of FIA and commercial rightsholder FOM with any decision, as well as an exaggeration between manufacturers.

Ben Sulem first expressed the desire of V10 enginesBut a V8 formula with a more modest and cheap form of hybrid systems probably makes more understandable because it is more road relevant and lighter, which will respond to calls to further cut the minimum weight of F1 cars.

The President said, “Many manufacturers produce V8 in their cars, so this is commercially correct. How much is this? The target is more than 50 percent (cheaper) in everything.”

Ben Sulem also addressed a potential 12th team on the grid. After a popular effort A US OEM land as GM brand cadilac For 2026, he is participating from the next China.

There is no such bid at this time, and Ben Sulem admitted that any interested party would have to go through the same rigid FIA and FOM procedures to ensure that it is viable and adds value to the chain.

“The time will come when we think it is right to open the expression of interest,” he said. “We are not here to bother other teams.

“It will not just go to go and do it to do it. It should be worth it for us. The team must add value to maintain the business of Formula 1.”