From rumors to reality?
In May 2024, Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali opened up to the idea of “accelerating the possibility of doing away with hybrids thanks to sustainable fuels” for the future of the category, also with a view to reducing the weight of the cars, one of the well-known weak points of current single-seaters.
Last February, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also spoke on the subject on social media: “We should consider a number of directions, including the roaring sound of a V10 powered by sustainable fuel.”
The basic idea is that a V10 engine running on sustainable fuels would be cheaper and also simpler to produce than the current power units and those set to take effect in 2026. This would clearly offer advantages in terms of the size and weight of the single-seaters, which could have a positive impact on the spectacle on track and the presence of private engine manufacturers on the grid.
The 2026 regulations and the emergency plan
The Germans from Auto, Motor und Sport, through the well-known journalist Michael Schmidt, have reported that Formula 1 management is looking at the major regulatory reform of 2026 with concern. There is widespread fear that it could create a highly unbalanced situation on track, given that there will be new cars, new power units, new tires, and the introduction of sustainable fuels. Teams are whispering concerns about overly ambitious regulations and the possibility of enormous disparities in energy recovery systems between different manufacturers.
The worst-case scenario is that a single team’s dominance could push manufacturers to leave Formula 1 en masse.
Michael Schmidt explained: “The idea of extending the current rules by two years has been floated, to move directly to naturally aspirated engines in 2028.” The proposal is said to have come from the FIA, which has been accused of trying to help Cadillac, for whom it would be ideal to use Ferrari’s current power unit for two years before switching to its own V10. This plan immediately seemed unfeasible, given the significant investments already underway for the new regulatory cycle.
The FIA working group and the divisions
The Federation has thus established a working group to assess the return of V10 engines in Formula 1. Auto, Motor und Sport has outlined which teams might be in favor and which might be opposed.
Both Red Bull—concerned about the development race under the 2026 regulations, facing major manufacturers alone—and Ferrari would welcome the return of the V10.
Audi and Honda, on the other hand, are completely opposed, as the Germans entered F1 with the promise of a generation of hybrid single-seaters using sustainable fuels, and the Japanese confirmed their presence for the same reason. Mercedes is taking a more cautious stance for now, but “Toto Wolff could be enthusiastic about a longer-term solution.”
The compromise: a shortened regulatory cycle?
A possible compromise could be to reduce the regulatory cycle starting in 2026 to just three seasons (as allowed by the FIA statute), paving the way for the return of the V10 in Formula 1 from 2029.
Teams discussed the matter both during testing in Bahrain and at the first race in Melbourne, with the FIA and F1 listening to the discussions without intervening for now.
This solution would allow teams and engine manufacturers to preserve the investments already made for the upcoming regulatory overhaul—reportedly around half a billion dollars invested over the past three years—with 2026 cars already in the wind tunnel since January.
The German publication emphasized that “a decision will not be delayed until summer,” but also noted that the main concerns stem from the fact that the compact turbo engine is more relevant to automotive manufacturers than a naturally aspirated engine.
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