Engine politics: Ferrari and Red Bull push for V10s, but Mercedes, Audi and Honda hold majority. The V10 debate: Ferrari and Red Bull support return, but opposition outweighs them.

Goal: new rules before 2031
A very important meeting regarding engines and the future of the category is scheduled in Bahrain. In 2026, the new power units without MGU-H and powered 100% by biofuels will debut, but all attention is focused on the electric component, which will have a greater role than it currently does in terms of the power contribution between the combustion and electric parts (the target on paper is a 50/50 split, but that doesn’t appear to be a realistic scenario).

The next technical cycle for engines is expected in 2031, but it’s not out of the question that it could come earlier, especially because—surprisingly—there seems to be convergence between Liberty Media and the FIA on the idea of a return to naturally aspirated V10s. This kind of ‘technology’ would represent a major throwback, so it’s clear that if this scenario were ever to materialize, it would do so through a compromise that does not completely reject hybrid technology, which was introduced in F1 starting from 2014—a highly efficient technology in terms of consumption versus performance (but with extremely high costs and very complex current power units).

The BBC reports what the alignments of the engine manufacturers appear to be in this debate over the (near?) future of F1, starting from a notable fact: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing for an early departure from the 2026 regulations before 2031 to make room for the return of V10s powered by biofuels.

Supporting this scenario are Ferrari and Red Bull, while Mercedes, Honda, and Audi are opposed—and understandably so, given that these three manufacturers must also consider the investments already made and planned, as well as the potential impact on their consumer products. This is something Ferrari can overlook (being a luxury-only brand not producing at scale) and something that doesn’t concern Red Bull, which does not manufacture road cars and is just beginning its journey as an engine supplier. Mercedes, Honda, and Audi are in the majority, and on that basis, the case for the return of the V10s is lost before it even begins. Therefore, a compromise will be necessary if there’s to be a change of course in the short term (not before 2029 in any case, at the earliest 2028): one example to convince currently opposed manufacturers could be a turbo V8 with hybrid elements. This is what’s at stake in the upcoming meeting in Bahrain—a matter of no small importance given the weight of the topic.