Cadillac and Ford would welcome F1 move to V8 engines

The 2026 Miami Grand Prix wasn’t just another race weekend. It was the moment two Detroit heavyweights — Cadillac and Ford — officially planted the American flag in Formula 1’s high-stakes grid. But while the new hybrid V6 power units hummed along under the Florida sun, executives from both brands were already looking ahead to a louder, simpler future: a return to V8 engines.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Ford, powering championship contenders Red Bull Racing and its junior squad, and Cadillac, the scrappy newcomer fielding Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas (who finished 16th and 18th respectively after bringing their first major upgrade package), both made strong impressions in front of a packed house. Yet behind the scenes, the conversation quickly turned to what comes next.

Ford Racing chief Mark Rushbrook was blunt about the direction he’d like to see F1 take. “It’s great to see the FIA and Formula One already talking about what is the next set of regulations,” he told the Detroit News. “We are a stakeholder in the sport (and) we’ll share our point of view. But certainly, as a company that makes a lot of naturally aspirated V-8s, we would love to see a V-8 here.”

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Ford Racing prepares to drive in the garage prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 01, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

GM President Mark Reuss, whose Cadillac team is building toward an in-house power unit in 2029 after starting with Ferrari-supplied units, didn’t hide his enthusiasm either. “I love V-8s and . . . the way they sound,” Reuss said. “But we’re very respectful — as one of the newer teams—of the investment that was made in the V-6 hybrids. So if Formula One and FIA and the teams say that we’re going to (go V-8), we’ll be ready.”

The timing couldn’t be more perfect. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed that F1 is targeting a switch to V8 power units by 2031 at the latest — and possibly as soon as 2030 — running on sustainable synthetic fuels with far less reliance on complex hybrid systems. The current 2026 regulations, with their near 50/50 split between combustion and electric power, have drawn criticism for muted sound, complicated energy management, and less thrilling on-track battles. A V8 reset offers a chance to restore the visceral roar that once defined the pinnacle of motorsport while still hitting net-zero goals.

For Ford and GM — brands whose DNA is soaked in the rumble of naturally aspirated and supercharged V8s from muscle cars to trucks — the move would be more than technical. It would be a marketing masterstroke, linking F1’s global stage directly to the heart of American performance culture.

Rushbrook noted Ford’s long, proud history in the sport, from Cosworth eras to today’s winning partnership with Red Bull. Reuss highlighted the emotional high of watching Cadillac compete at the top level, crediting drivers Pérez and Bottas for their veteran feedback on unfamiliar tracks like Miami.

Both companies stressed they remain fully committed to the current regulations — Ford as a power-unit supplier delivering race-winning performance, Cadillac as a full works team building from the ground up in record time. But when the next rulebook is written, America’s automakers want their signature sound front and center.

Whether the shift lands in 2029, 2030 or 2031, one thing is certain: Cadillac and Ford aren’t just showing up in F1. They’re ready to help rewrite the soundtrack — and bring the thunder back to the world’s fastest stage.