A return to V10 engines in Formula 1 soon?
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president, suggests the return of V10 engines in F1, two decades after their disappearance. This suggestion, mentioned on Instagram, comes at a time when the grid is moving towards hybridization and sustainable fuels from 2026.
The time is ripe for statements from Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA. After announcing earlier this week that he wanted more race directors and a 12th team, he now supports a return to V10 engines, 20 years after their disappearance from the circuits.
The last time a V10 engine was heard on a Formula 1 circuit was in October 2005. The following year, the V8s made their debut, except for Red Bull’s sister team, which was then called Toro Rosso. They were allowed to use the V10s, but with a limited revs.
The president of the FIA made a message on Instagram saying that since the launch that took place in London, many discussions have emerged: « The F1 launch this week in London sparked many positive discussions about the future of the sport. We look forward to the introduction of the 2026 regulations on chassis and power units, but we must also pave the way for future technological trends in motorsport. We must consider a range of avenues, including the roaring sound of the V10 running on sustainable fuel. »
The new 2026 engines
As part of the project to transition to a more sustainable engine, the single-seaters will adopt synthetic fuel starting next year. This program aims to establish an approximately equal split between the power of a V6 combustion engine and that of a more efficient MGU-K electric motor. While the 1.6-liter V6 turbo engines used since 2014 will remain largely unchanged, more powerful electric motors are expected to bring the power up to 1,100 hp. This decision aims to attract more manufacturers to the grid. Audi will arrive in 2026, and Cadillac plans to develop power units internally from 2028 for its team, which will be the 11th team on the grid.
Paddy Lowe, the founder of Zero Petroleum, a carbon-neutral synthetic fuel company, also believed that phasing out hybrid vehicles would be a dead end in the near future. “I’ve seen this idea for a very long time, in fact, and there’s an element of this [vision] in the formation of our company Zero,” said the former Mercedes and Williams engineer about a return to V10s. “[But] Formula 1 is currently a hybrid formula, which is actually a very good solution for mainstream automobiles, I think.”
FIA and Formula 1 on the same wavelength
Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that a return to V10 engines was part of the changes related to future regulations: « We must consider different avenues, including the roar of the V10 running on sustainable fuel. Whatever direction is chosen, we must help teams and manufacturers ensure control over research and development costs. »
These words echo the statements of Stefano Domenicali, who suggested exploring alternatives to the current hybrid power units: « If sustainable fuel does a good job of being zero-emission and we address the sustainability issue in the right way, maybe we no longer need to be as complicated or as expensive in terms of engine development. We could consider going back to much lighter engines and perhaps with a good sound »,” he had stated.
If this decision is made, it will delight the longtime fans.
