Speaking to Fleet Street journalists at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, Ben Sulayem emphasised the need for a cheaper engine setup and suggested that the shift could come just three years after the complex 2026 power units are introduced.

“To us, the V8 is happening,” said Ben Sulayem. “With the teams now, I’m very optimistic, happy about it. FOM [Formula One Management] are supportive, the teams are realizing it is the right way. We need to do it soon. You need three years, so hopefully by 2029 we have something there, but the fuel is also very expensive, and we have to be very careful with that. Transmissions are very expensive,” he added.

These recent remarks align with Ben Sulayem’s (as well as other FIA officials) earlier calls this season for more affordable engines, whiche led to a meeting with current and potential power unit manufacturers in Bahrain. Since then, there haven’t been any official talks about future engines. Any decision would need approval from the FIA and commercial rights holder FOM, as well as a supermajority among manufacturers.

Ben Sulayem had previously shown interest in bringing back V10 engines, but a V8 setup with a simpler, cheaper hybrid system is seen as more practical. It’s more relevant to road cars and lighter in weight, helping address concerns about the rising minimum weight of F1 cars.

Ben Sulayem also spoke about the possibility of a 12th team joining the grid. Following the long push to bring in American manufacturer Cadillac for 2026, he’s now looking toward potential involvement from China.

There is currently no official bid under consideration, but Ben Sulayem noted that any potential entry would still need to pass the same strict FIA and FOM approval process to prove it’s viable and value to the sport.