In a surprisingly but more and more audibly sound decision the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed the desire to reintroduce V8 engines into Formula 1 which is now gaining popularity among those in the paddock and fans alike. It is an open message that the sport should adjust its priorities in keeping the main identity in order to be able to fit into the more sustainable but also cost-effective future.

These remarks made by Ben Sulayem in a recent debate over the future of F1 power unit regulation shows that a feeling is growing that the current hybrid era of technology is taking the sport further and further out of what makes it so compelling. With the advent of the turbo-hybrid V6 in 2014 fans have felt aggrieved because they are no longer getting the raw visceral feeling that has been synonymous with formula 1. A naturally aspirated V8 scream is not only nostalgic, but it is representative of a simpler, less indecipherable age of racing.

Although the argument is not all about tone and emotion but economics and inclusivity. Teams now are investing hundreds of millions of dollars a year to build and enhance very intricate hybrid energy systems. As much as manufacturers like Mercedes and Ferrari can afford such expenses, other smaller companies can barely survive. Such inequity negates competition and puts a chokehold on innovation on the low end of the grid. The possibility of the cheaper engine variants backed by Sulayem would be like opening the floodgates and allow new entries to the field alongside some privateers without extravagant budgets in place.

Green issues have been relatively the top cutting point in favor of hybrid technology but Ben Sulayem does not miss the needs of the planet. Rather, his dream of a streamlined engine model is combined with clean energy fuels- a trend that is already in the pipeline of the F1 through its long-term vision. The marriage between efficient engines and environmentally friendly fuels may fulfill all environmental ambitions without food to the fun-hungry fans.

Interestingly, this notion has raked some encouragement among past drivers, team principals and even technical directors. Of late, there has been a feeling that the technology-intensive format on which Formula 1 is presently headed might be put off new fans. In an epoch that is marked by widespread consumption of media in pieces shorter than the next one (2-second attention span), the sport will be forced to come up with methods through which it can ensure the appetite of its product is immediate. And what can better re-focus all eyes around the world, than a revisit to the roar of V8s reverberating around some of the most famous Circuits on the planet in places like Monza and Spa?

Naturally, the way to revive V8 engines is not smooth. The formula that F1 will use in its engines has already been decided until 2026 and Audi and Red Bull Powertrains are deeply immersed in the new regulations. U-turns would demand huge levels of agreement and renegotiation. However, Ben Sulayem has left the gate ajar to the possibility of flexibility in the future e.g. hybrid V8 system, or some philosophy, split engines between constructors.

What is important is that the Formula 1 is now ready to have a wider discussion of how it should move on. Mohammed Ben Sulayem urges not the regression but recalibration. Racing is all about intense contest, diehard racing enthusiasts and unparalleled excitement. Much as they have problems, V8 engines should be considered to find that magic again, as long as it does not compromise environmental as well as technical objectives.

Finally, it is not all about what drives the cars, it is about the driving force of the sport. The world is ready to change, right now, and that might be the gasoline that F1 really needs.

Follow us on Zeroto30s social channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s

Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s