FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is in favor of a swift return of Formula 1 to the louder atmospheric V8 engines.
“Consider a simpler engine, like a V8 running on fully sustainable fuel. The teams are behind it. Hopefully, we will have something by 2029. This is the right direction needed to keep the sport running and affordable, despite there still being people who think unlimited money can be made in Formula 1,” Ben Sulayem explains.
The V8 engines were last used in Formula 1 in 2013, before the current 1.6-liter V6 engines. According to Mohammed Ben Sulayem, a return to V8 engines also offers commercial benefits, apart from the fact that they are less complicated and costly than the current power sources. He believes the V8 engines are lighter and the sound will appeal to more fans.
Naturally, the FIA president from the United Arab Emirates also responded to the strong criticism of his policy from Tim Mayer, the American who also put himself forward as a new president of the FIA last Friday. Mayer, who was fired as an FIA steward last year, accused Ben Sulayem of running a reign of terror.
‘I Don’t Need to Defend Myself’
“I feel sorry for people who say that and who no longer have any relationship with the FIA,” responded Ben Sulayem. “Have you ever worked at the FIA? I would say, put it to the test and check if there’s any truth to it. Ask people who currently work at the FIA, they have the right to speak. Tim Mayer has worked as an FIA steward, but that doesn’t make you an FIA insider or FIA staff member. The FIA is formed by its members. Feel free to talk to them. I certainly don’t feel the need to defend myself or campaign in this way. I have other things to do. And he (Mayer) can say what he wants. As we say in the Arab world: the tongue has no bones.”
He continues: “Listen, what happened last year was something between him and the FIA. Is our system perfect? No, every system can be improved. If he disagrees with something, he can go to the International Court of Arbitration, but I’m not going to get involved. I don’t concern myself with minor matters. The FIA is bigger than this, bigger than me, bigger than anyone.”
