The $190m engine budget cap cut in half and cars 80kg lighter — the FIA has formally put forward plans to bring back V8 turbo-hybrid engines in 2030 or 2031. The proposal follows fierce criticism of the 2026 regulations, which imposed an even 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and the battery. Max Verstappen dubbed that format "Formula E on steroids".
Under the new plan, energy-recovery output will drop from 350kW to 200kW, and the roar will return. The new V8 will have a capacity of between 2.0 and 2.3 litres, run entirely on sustainable fuel and produce around 900 horsepower in total. Engineers are weighing two ways of building the engines: adding two cylinders to the existing 1.6-litre unit, or adopting a fully standardised, externally supplied base.
