FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has reiterated his dedication to a return of V8 engines in System 1 within the close to future, and has now outlined a broader imaginative and prescient that might additionally contain a dramatic discount in automobile weight.
Present 2026 System 1 vehicles have a minimal weight of 768kg. Whereas the FIA’s newest laws have already succeeded in lowering that determine in comparison with the earlier era, Ben Sulayem believes rather more could be achieved.
System 1’s minimal weight has steadily elevated over the previous decade because of a number of elements, together with bigger vehicles, more and more subtle hybrid energy items, stronger crash buildings and extra security programs.
Ben Sulayem acknowledged that security necessities have contributed to the pattern – however nonetheless believes F1 can return to the burden ranges seen round 15 years in the past.
“What’s the worst factor within the vehicles now?” he mentioned in an interview with French broadcaster Canal+. “Complexity, extra money, bills, and likewise large automobile. A giant and heavy automobile means what? Means it’s not protected.
“We added 50 kilograms due to the security. However now I wish to see a automobile, a complete full automobile for lower than 650 kilograms. My goal is 630.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Photograph by: EYE4images / NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures
Attaining such a determine whereas sustaining fashionable security requirements would signify a significant engineering problem. Even reaching the FIA president’s broader goal of sub-650kg vehicles would require a discount of greater than 100kg in comparison with the present laws.
Ben Sulayem believes a simplified engine system might assist make that attainable, with future laws lowering the function {of electrical} parts within the energy unit. That might successfully imply lighter batteries and a smaller hybrid contribution than right now, because the FIA president envisions electrification accounting for round 10% of the general energy output.
“The V8 has to return,” he mentioned. “You could have the ability from the ICE engine of perhaps 760 horsepower with 10% in it of electrification. That might give it the sound. It will be less expensive. And R&D, analysis and growth, less expensive.
“As an engine alone, a lot lighter, pleasurable, and the sound will come for the spectators.”
Underneath Ben Sulayem’s imaginative and prescient, System 1 would retain a component of electrification however considerably scale back its function in comparison with present hybrid energy items, serving to to decrease prices and lower weight.
The FIA president additionally argued {that a} return to naturally aspirated V8 engines wouldn’t come on the expense of F1’s environmental ambitions, because the sequence switched to completely sustainable fuels below the 2026 laws.
“You could have the groups. You could have the monetary stability of the race. And also you run it in what? Sustainable gasoline,” he mentioned.
“I am unable to see the place we are going to get it unsuitable. The followers [will] have one thing that we’ve to present [them] to.”
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