Mercedes, Ford, and Cadillac support the return of V8 engines as excitement for F1 grows.
Support for a return to V8 engines in Formula 1 is quickly gaining traction, with major US manufacturers now publicly endorsing the idea after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that the concept "will happen." In an interview with the Detroit News, both Cadillac owner General Motors and Ford expressed their positions.
Ford Racing chief Mark Rushbrook remarked, "It’s excellent to see the FIA and Formula 1 already discussing the next set of regulations. We are stakeholders in the sport, and we’ll share our perspective. As a company that produces many naturally aspirated V8s, we would definitely enjoy seeing a V8 here."
GM president Mark Reuss echoed this sentiment, stating, "I love V8s and their sound. However, we must respect the significant investment made in the V6 hybrids as one of the newer teams. If Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams decide to switch to V8s, we’ll be prepared."
The enthusiasm from Detroit aligns with growing support within the paddock. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that his team is also receptive to a transition, stating, "We are open to new engine regulations. We cherish V8 engines and have only fond memories of them; from our standpoint, it’s a genuine Mercedes engine." However, he warned against making drastic changes, adding, "If we abruptly shift to naturally aspirated engines, we might appear a bit foolish. Perhaps we can achieve 800 hp from the combustion engine and supplement it with another 400 hp from electric power."
Red Bull is also in favor, despite its considerable investment in developing a new engine. Laurent Mekies said, "Red Bull Ford Powertrains is quite receptive to this idea. We had to start from scratch with this generation of powertrain, and we’re eager for the new challenge."
Meanwhile, Ferrari is advocating for simplification, with Frederic Vasseur stating, "It’s essential to lower the exorbitant engine budgets."
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