F1 is targeting 2031 for its next-generation engines… without rushing things

Formula 1 is already starting to look beyond the next technical revolution. And this time, there's no question of rushing in headlong.

F1 boss Stefano Domenicali confirms this in an interview with Autosport: the arrival of the next generation of engines won't be delayed, but it will be better prepared.

Unlike the development of the current power units—designed in a context where all-electric was the only horizon in sight—upcoming discussions should offer more room to maneuver. Translation: less pressure, more options on the table.

A changed landscape

Five years ago, it was difficult for engine manufacturers to stray from the electric path. Today, the automotive landscape is more nuanced. Hybrids and sustainable fuels have regained prominence in industry strategies, giving F1 a certain legitimacy to continue in this direction.

A key point for future discussions: maintaining this technical flexibility without locking manufacturers into a single path. A way to avoid tense debates… and forced compromises.

The crux of the matter: cost and weight

Behind the rhetoric, two very concrete priorities emerge: reducing costs and lightening the cars.

Today, the price of power units is considered too high. A structural problem for a championship that wants to remain attractive and economically sustainable.

The same observation applies to weight: modern F1 cars are flirting with increasingly higher weights. And in the crosshairs, an obvious culprit—the battery. Reducing its size and weight could become a major lever for restoring some agility to the cars.

The FIA at the helm

The FIA will lead the regulatory discussions. The process begins this year, with a delicate mission: finding the right balance between hybridization, internal combustion engines, and sustainable fuels.

The goal? To propose a coherent technical foundation, in step with the automotive industry, but also with the DNA of the sport.

2031 in sight… with the door left slightly ajar

At this stage, 2031 appears to the Formula 1 boss as the natural deadline for introducing this new generation of engines. A logical timeline given the development timelines.

But nothing is set in stone. An earlier introduction remains theoretically possible… provided all stakeholders agree and technical constraints allow it.

In short, F1 wants to avoid finding itself in a bind as it has in the past. This time, it's taking the time to build. And in a sport where every detail counts, that's probably no luxury.