Scuderia Ferrari has yet committed to remaining in Formula 1 after the 2025 Formula 1 season: starting with the 2026 F1 campaign, the FIA will introduce new rules and technical regulations which are far form clear at the moment and the Maranello team may even decide to use its special right of veto in case Red Bull Powertrains insists on keeping a technical collaboration with while at the same time demanding to get benefits similar to the ones that Audi will definitely receive in terms of budget available, development time and capacity. These benefits were introduced with the goal of giving new engine manufacturers the possibility to quickly recover the manufacturers that have been in Formula 1 since the hybrid technology was introduced back in 2014.
The Italian side has no problem with genuine new manufacturers, such as Audi (and maybe also Porsche if the German brand decides to enter the sport) and feels that in fact they should be given permission to use a bigger budget, have more hours on the test bench as well as wind tunnel, alongside other advantages as compared to Ferrari, Mercedes and Alpine.
However, Ferrari pointed out that Red Bull Powertrains is attempting to bend the rules and join the sport starting with the 2026 championship by having the status of a brand new manufacturer, while at the same time taking advantage of its ongoing working partnership with Honda, which would allow them to have a significant advantage over the competition.
Red Bull, just like Audi, have agreed to the new rules and regulation for the 2026 F1 campaign for some time now, but the deadline for that entry has been extended a few times, given the fact that Scuderia Ferrari did not want to sign and commit to the 2026 Technical Regulations. The FIA is not taking into consideration the possibility of Ferrari leaving the sport, given the fame, historical importance and appeal that the Italian manufacturer brings to Formula 1, and the governing body has therefore extended the deadline two times: it was initially scheduled for mid-October and it will most likely be extended into the next year, as Ferrari wants the matter to be sorted out before joining in.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
During the last race weekend of 2022, in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff attempted to play down the fact the deadline for the 2026 entries has been delayed two times, explaining that, “there was no formal deadline. I think there is nothing in the regulations that said it needs to be the 15th of October, it was discretionary for the FIA to decide when that is and we have entered – that has happened. And now it’s about the FIA to talk to everyone else. These discussions are progressing as far as I understand, so we are on course for 2026.” – the Mercedes team principal added.
Laurent Rossi, the chief executive officer of Automobiles Alpine and the Alpine F1 Team, was also questioned on this topic and replied along the same view as the Austrian manager, but did not clearly specify if the French manufacturer has already signed a formal agreement to remain in F1 beyond 2025: “We had some points we wanted to discuss on the legal side, to make sure that we fully covered as much as possible, which we did. We just kept on discussing those points as far as we could. And at some point, when we reach a level in discussions where we think we’re all in a good position, we sign – or we’re going to sign. I think it’s imminent.”
Red Bull of course insists that there is no doubt its company should be seen as a new entry, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner explaining: “The deadlines were extended but there’s an awful lot of discussion about governance and tidying up some of the technical regs and obviously financial regs as well. As a newcomer for 2026, Red Bull Powertrains has entered. It’s an exciting moment for the group, for the company, a new challenge to take on, and a lot to do between now and 2026.”
However, given the fact that Red Bull is negotiating with Honda to convince them to change their minds and remain in the sport, not as a works effort but rather with the status of technical partner, Scuderia Ferrari has made it clear on several occasions that Red Bull Powertrains cannot receive benefits similar to the ones Audi will get as a true new entrant, because, in fact, Red Bull Powertrains will just be an extension of Honda’s current entry and, therefore, must work based on the same regulation as the rest of the current manufacturers, namely Ferrari, Mercedes and Alpine.
In the last decade, Scuderia Ferrari has never used its right of veto to insist on regulation changes, even when it might have been beneficial for the Maranello team, but may decide to use it in case the FIA does not reach a clear conclusion regarding the Honda – Red Bull status as soon as possible.
The FIA now has to understand what the Japanese manufacturer’s involvement in Formula 1 will be in the next years, before making a final decision regarding the status and benefits that Red Bull Powertrains will receive. This will most likely happen during the 2023 Formula 1 season, a new championship in which budget cap and development restrictions will be imposed on teams.
Leave a Reply