FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has reiterated his dedication to a return of V8 engines in Formulation 1 within the close to future, and has now outlined a broader imaginative and prescient that might additionally contain a dramatic discount in automotive weight.
Present 2026 Formulation 1 vehicles have a minimal weight of 768kg. Whereas the FIA’s newest laws have already succeeded in decreasing that determine in comparison with the earlier technology, Ben Sulayem believes far more might be achieved.
Formulation 1’s minimal weight has steadily elevated over the previous decade because of a number of components, together with bigger vehicles, more and more subtle hybrid energy items, stronger crash constructions and extra security techniques.
Ben Sulayem acknowledged that security necessities have contributed to the pattern – however nonetheless believes F1 can return to the burden ranges seen round 15 years in the past.
“What’s the worst factor within the vehicles now?” he mentioned in an interview with French broadcaster Canal+. “Complexity, more cash, bills, and in addition massive automotive. An enormous and heavy automotive means what? Means it’s not protected.
“We added 50 kilograms due to the protection. However now I wish to see a automotive, a complete full automotive for lower than 650 kilograms. My goal is 630.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Photograph by: EYE4images / NurPhoto through Getty Pictures
Reaching such a determine whereas sustaining trendy security requirements would signify a serious engineering problem. Even reaching the FIA president’s broader goal of sub-650kg vehicles would require a discount of greater than 100kg in comparison with the present laws.
Ben Sulayem believes a simplified engine components might assist make that potential, with future laws decreasing the function {of electrical} parts within the energy unit. That will successfully imply lighter batteries and a smaller hybrid contribution than at present, because the FIA president envisions electrification accounting for round 10% of the general energy output.
“The V8 has to return,” he mentioned. “You could have the facility from the ICE engine of possibly 760 horsepower with 10% in it of electrification. That will give it the sound. It might be less expensive. And R&D, analysis and improvement, less expensive.
“As an engine alone, a lot lighter, pleasurable, and the sound will come for the spectators.”
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Underneath Ben Sulayem’s imaginative and prescient, Formulation 1 would retain a component of electrification however considerably cut back its function in comparison with present hybrid energy items, serving to to decrease prices and lower weight.
The FIA president additionally argued {that a} return to naturally aspirated V8 engines wouldn’t come on the expense of F1’s environmental ambitions, because the collection switched to completely sustainable fuels beneath the 2026 laws.
“You could have the groups. You could have the monetary stability of the race. And also you run it in what? Sustainable gas,” he mentioned.
“I can not see the place we are going to get it incorrect. The followers [will] have one thing that we now have to present [them] to.”
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