FIA Chief Pushes for 630kg Cars and V8 Return in Long-Term F1 Plan

Overview

• Mohammed Ben Sulayem restated his vision in interviews on June 13 and at Le Mans on June 14, calling for a target car weight around 630kg and a return to simpler V8-style power units.
• He proposes roughly 760hp from an internal combustion V8 with about 10% hybrid boost running on sustainable fuel to deliver louder sound, lower development costs, and simpler packaging.
• The plan follows short-term fixes agreed for the 2027–2028 engine rules but is presented as a longer-term policy that still requires formal consultation and approval from teams and power‑unit manufacturers.
• Manufacturers are split over technical trade-offs such as turbocharging, weight, efficiency and cost, with Audi reportedly favoring turbos while the FIA argues turbos add complexity, weight and expense.
• Any wholesale move would reshape car design, safety and budgets because current F1 cars weigh about 768kg after safety additions and hybrids, so teams would face major engineering work and commercial decisions if regulators approve a switch.