F1 Agrees to Return to Turbocharged V8 Engines From 2030
The short version
- F1 and the FIA agreed on a 3.0-liter turbo V8 engine formula targeted for 2030
- Electric motor output cut from 350 kW to 100 kW, trimming over 100 pounds from the power unit
- Turbos help meet noise limits at street circuits like Las Vegas, Miami and Singapore
- A push-to-pass style overtaking boost is the leading candidate to replace current systems
- Sustainable fuel and partial electrification will remain in the rules
Formula 1 and the FIA have settled on a simpler, lighter and louder V8 engine formula, targeted for the 2030 season.
Formula 1 and the FIA have reached an agreement with the sport's engine manufacturers on the framework for its next technical era. The plan calls for a 3.0-liter turbocharged V8 engine, targeted for introduction as early as 2030, replacing the current hybrid V6 power units.
The change trims back the heavy electrification of the current formula. Electric motor output will drop from 350 kW to 100 kW, and the rules are expected to remove more than 100 pounds from the power unit overall. That reverses part of a weight gain that has added over 200 pounds to the minimum car weight since V8s last raced in 2013.
The turbocharger also serves a practical purpose beyond performance. Unmuffled naturally aspirated V8s would exceed noise limits at city street circuits such as Las Vegas, Miami and Singapore, while a turbo acts as a natural muffler and still delivers a louder note than today's engines. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said earlier this year that the current power units sound like a fire alarm.
Rulemakers are still debating how overtaking will be assisted in the new era. DRS was retired after 2025 in favor of active-aero Straight Line Mode, and a driver-managed push-to-pass style boost, similar to IndyCar's system, is the leading candidate going forward.
Sustainable fuel and some form of electrification will remain in the formula. That position was established in FIA meetings with manufacturers including Audi, Ferrari, Ford/Red Bull, General Motors, Honda and Mercedes, according to Motorsport.com.
