Formula 1 Austrian GP
Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone backs push for V8 engines
Speaking to select media at the Austrian Grand Prix, the former Formula 1 supremo backs a move to bigger engines for the series' next rules cycle
Filip Cleeren Oleg Karpov
Edited: Jun 27, 2026, 4:00 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Bernie Ecclestone and Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President in the Paddock
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has backed moves by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali for the series to shift to bigger engines amid talks of a V8 switch by 2030 or 2031.
As previously stated by Ben Sulayem, F1's governing body the FIA is very keen to switch to bigger, louder and cheaper engines for the series' next rules cycle, which is set to arrive in 2031 but could be brought forward if agreed upon by F1's manufacturers.
Read Also:
The advent of sustainable fuels, combined with a shift of the automotive industry's stance on EVs, has made a return to high-cylinder, high-revving engines a more appealing proposition, with it hoped that V8 engines with a simpler hybrid component would also bring costs down.
Speaking to select media at the Austrian Grand Prix, including Motorsport.com, former F1 supremo Ecclestone said returning to bigger engines is "the right thing to do".
"There's one of the two things which I hope [Ben Sulayem] is going to do in the future," said Ecclestone. "A three-litre engine. I don't care if it's a V8 or a V10 or a V12. I think probably all of you would be happy with that. I think it's the right thing to do."
Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the F1 2026 power unit regulations.
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Ecclestone, who left the championship a decade ago as Liberty Media acquired the series, said four-time world champion Max Verstappen was right to be a vocal critic of the current, extremely complex power unit regulations, which are being gradually adjusted over the next two seasons amid driver pushback.
Verstappen frequently indicated his F1 future would depend on whether or not the current crop of cars will become more exciting and pure to drive, and move away from the overbearing emphasis on energy management. Following smaller tweaks in May, F1 will increase the ratio between combustion power and electric energy to 58/42 for next year.
When asked by Motorsport.com if F1 should be afraid of losing Verstappen, Ecclestone replied: "I mean, he was right criticising. I think the regulations weren't necessary to do what has been done. And that's what Max was complaining about."
Now, Ecclestone believes there will be enough support from F1's manufacturers to push the changes through.
"[Ben Sulayem] would like it if all the teams put their hands up and said it's fantastic, which I'm sure they would do if they weren't controlled by a manufacturer," Ecclestone said. "And I think the manufacturers will come on board, because it's obvious."
Photos from Austrian GP - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Austrian Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
50
Read Also:
Formula 1Mercedes to keep F1 driver line-up for 2027, says Toto Wolff
Formula 1F1 Austrian GP: George Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in hot FP3
Formula 1Paul Monaghan set to join Cadillac, but hasn’t resigned from Red Bull yet
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article LIVE: F1 Austrian Grand Prix updates - George Russell on provisional pole as Max Verstappen crashes
Next article Carlos Sainz explains how he separates F1 friendships from on-track rivalries
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Formula 1
Formula 1 15 h
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Latest news
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
37 min
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Pedro Acosta proposes new idea for monitoring tyre pressure in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 1 h
Pedro Acosta proposes new idea for monitoring tyre pressure in MotoGP
“Just a disaster” – How Isack Hadjar’s nightmare Singapore F1 weekend unfolded
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
“Just a disaster” – How Isack Hadjar’s nightmare Singapore F1 weekend unfolded
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe