The FIA is exploring a significant change to the power unit regulations for Formula 1®, with plans to move away from the current customer engine model by 2031. This potential shift involves introducing simpler, naturally aspirated V8 engines combined with smaller electric units, aiming to reduce costs and complexity while enhancing the purity of racing.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Formula 1® CEO Stefano Domenicali have expressed support for this direction, highlighting the benefits of lighter, cheaper power units. The proposal includes offering third-party “white label” engines to customer teams, which would mark a departure from the existing arrangements where manufacturers supply engines directly to multiple teams. This approach is intended to lessen team dependencies and address concerns about alliances and influence within the engine supply landscape.
The current engine supply setup involves Mercedes providing engines to three customer teams, though the manufacturer plans to reduce this number by 2031. Red Bull Ford Powertrains supplies Red Bull Racing and its sister team Racing Bulls (AlphaTauri), while Ferrari leases engines to Haas and Cadillac. Cadillac, which plans to enter as an engine builder in 2029, has shown support for the proposed switch to V8 power units. Some manufacturers have expressed interest in the new engine concept but remain unable to proceed until the regulations are finalized.
The move to simpler V8 engines would mark a return to a more straightforward power unit architecture, contrasting with the current complex hybrid turbocharged systems introduced in 2014. Before that year, third-party engine supplies were more common, but the rising costs and technical demands of hybrid power units led to a consolidation of engine manufacturers and tighter control over supply. The FIA’s plan aims to reverse this trend by fostering greater competition and reducing financial barriers for teams.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has voiced concerns about the current engine supply dynamics, particularly regarding team alliances and ownership structures that could influence competitive balance. The introduction of third-party engines could help mitigate these issues by providing customer teams with more independent options. However, details on how these third-party supplies would be structured or priced have yet to be clarified.
The existing Concorde Agreement and power unit regulations are set to run until the end of 2030. The FIA has the option to implement new rules unilaterally from 2031 but prefers to reach a consensus among manufacturers. If a supermajority of power unit manufacturers agree, the transition to the new V8 regulations could be accelerated to 2030. Notably, Audi has indicated a preference to retain turbochargers in future engines, a stance that is not widely shared among other manufacturers.
This initiative reflects the FIA’s broader goal of reducing costs and complexity in Formula 1® while promoting purer racing and greater independence among teams. The potential regulatory changes for 2031 remain under discussion, with further details expected as the governing body and manufacturers continue their consultations.
