Russell: “A return to V8 engines would be fantastic”
George Russell, currently the closest challenger in the Formula 1 title fight, has admitted that a return to V8 engines would be one of his biggest wishes for the sport’s next major regulatory era in 2030. Among his other priorities for Formula 1’s future is a clear push for lighter cars, as drivers already begin looking beyond the new 2026 rules despite only four races having been completed under the current generation of regulations.
The existing Formula 1 regulations are set to remain in place for the next five seasons, and while some adjustments have already been introduced, attention is naturally beginning to shift toward what the sport’s next technical revolution could look like. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently suggested that Formula 1 could potentially see a return to V8 engines in 2030, reigniting a debate that many fans and drivers have welcomed.
The possibility of bringing back one of Formula 1’s most iconic engine formats has sparked major discussion throughout the paddock, and George Russell made it clear that he would strongly support such a move.
“Obviously, there’s a lot to discuss, but I think going back to V8 engines would be something fantastic,” said the Mercedes driver – “The sustainable fuels topic is brilliant, and I think that would be a great thing for Formula 1.”
Russell also pointed to another area he believes would significantly improve the sport: “Another thing I would really like to see would be lighter cars. Reducing the weight of the cars even further would have an even more positive impact on the racing and the overall drivability.”
Russell focused on getting back to winning
The Mercedes driver continued by reflecting on how Formula 1 has evolved over the years, particularly when comparing modern machinery with the cars many fans still consider the golden standard of the sport.
“Think about the cars from 20 years ago, the glory days of Formula 1, with what many people say were the best cars ever built, and I agree with that. But it’s also true that there wasn’t much room for overtaking.”
“So I think that’s something worth reflecting on when considering the next step for Formula 1.”
In the shorter term, however, George Russell’s focus is firmly on the current championship battle, where Mercedes has emerged as the dominant force in the early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season. That said, while the Silver Arrows started the year strongly, momentum has recently shifted toward teammate Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the drivers’ championship standings.
Russell remains calm about that situation and drew from his own past experiences in junior categories to explain why championship momentum can change quickly: “Clearly, he’s in a very strong moment right now and has the wind behind him. But I’ve experienced personally, in the championships I won in the junior categories, how momentum can shift over the course of a season,” Russell explained.
“Also, thinking back to last year, I’m not even focusing too much on the championship right now. I just want to get back to the top step of the podium.”
The British driver also assessed his own recent performances, suggesting that the current standings may not fully reflect Mercedes’ competitive picture: “In the first three races, I had the pace to win. In the last race, I didn’t,” clarified Mercedes’ number 63 – “So I could be sitting here now with three very different results from the earlier races, but this could simply be an isolated case.”
George Russell concluded by pointing to missed opportunities earlier in the season: “Things just played out differently in China and Japan.”
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