F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali '1000 percent' supports F1 V8 engine comeback

Domenicali has spent a lot of the 2026 season defending the new rules. Upon F1's return amid a series of rule tweaks, the Italian argued the Miami GP played host to "truly wonderful racing", having had the opposing views from the likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to contend with in months prior - the former threatening to leave F1 altogether such is his disregard for 2026's racing.

Speaking in Miami, Domenicali said: “Of course, the regulations are what they are and there is constant evolution, but that has always been part of Formula 1. Together with all the parties involved in shaping the regulations, we try to take into account changing trends and developments, but right now we are focused on the fact that the races are truly exciting... I’m happy with the moment we are currently experiencing.”

Since F1's return, however, drivers' views have continued to remain mixed to say the least. In Montreal, Verstappen initially said proposed changes to change the 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical power to 60:40 could see him stay in F1, before walking back on those comments as the weekend went on.

Speaking after his P3 finish in Montreal, Verstappen said: "Even if you would give us a rental car, we’ll give you a good show and we’ll race each other very hard and well. So it has nothing to do in that sense with the rules. But for me, while driving, yeah, it’s all a bit confusing. It’s not what Formula 1 should be about. It’s way too complex, all of this."

At the same press conference, Hamilton, who finished in P2 for Ferrari, argued that racing in the 2026 cars "doesn’t feel what motorsport should be." He added: "The engine should be ringing its neck off right to the end of the straight and just pulling and pulling. That’s what they used to do in the V8 times or the V10 times."

However, George Russell, despite his crushing DNF in Montreal, spoke as one of the very few F1 2026 defenders as far as the drivers are concerned. The 28-year-old has argued against changes to the power units after what was a thrilling 30-lap battle with his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell said to GPblog and others: "I haven’t seen a battle like this, probably since Lewis and Nico in Bahrain 2014 and these new cars allow you to do that. These new engines allow me to do that. I don’t know why anybody wants to change them, because we had amazing battles in Melbourne, we had great battles in China, Kimi and I have had a great battle today and yesterday, and that’s only possible because of how these power units are so that’s my view.”

Noise surrounding a potential move back to V8 engines, not used in F1 since 2013, has only increased after comments made by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Miami. The Emirati claimed the "V8 is coming" possibly as early as 2030, and even if F1's power unit manufacturers do not all approve.

Three weeks later, the F1 CEO and President himself has now supported F1's return to V8s. Speaking to French publication L'Equipe, Domenicali said he was "1000 percent in favour of the V8," before describing lighter cars and simpler engines as "the pure essence of motor racing". The 61-year-old is the latest high-profile figure in F1 to support the idea following Ben Sulayem's comments.

In Miami, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff backed the V8 return soon after, telling GPblog and others: "Long-term, I think from a Mercedes standpoint we are open to new engine regulations. We love V8s, that has only great memories. From our perspective it's a pure Mercedes engine, it revs high.

Wolff admitted F1 risks "looking a bit ridiculous" by moving back to V8s, but nonetheless said: "If it's well planned and executed, we Mercedes, count us in to come back with a real, real racing engine." Rival team principal Laurent Mekies of Red Bull also supported the V8's return, teasing an early advantage thanks to the team's power train partnership with Ford.

Speaking of Ford, the American manufacturer's Racing Chief Mark Rushbrook has also spoken in favour of V8s, telling The Detroit News: "It's great to see the FIA and Formula One already talking about what is the next set of regulations. We are a stakeholder in the sport (and) we'll share our point of view. But certainly, as a company that makes a lot of naturally aspirated V8s, we would love to see a V8 here.”