F1 Isn't Going Back To V10 Engines Any Time Soon

Hosted by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the meeting focused on the incoming 2026 engine formula and the long-term direction for power units—which includes a proposal to return to the screaming V10 engines that played as the soundtrack for many iconic F1 moments.

While 2026 rules are already locked in, according to Motorsport, the meeting served as a roundtable to assess interest in a major shakeup to the powertrain regulations.

The talks brought together senior representatives from all six engine suppliers, including Honda’s Koji Watanabe, Audi’s Gernot Döllner, and Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius, who joined remotely. General Motors, via its Cadillac F1 initiative, was also involved.

Both Audi and Honda voiced support for sticking with the 2026 hybrid framework, stressing that the new rules underpinned their decision to enter the sport. For now, the appetite to rip up the power unit regulations appears remote, with talks over introducing V10 engines shelved for now.

The current engine regulations are set to run through 2031, and making any significant changes would require support from at least four of the six current manufacturers—a threshold that hasn’t been met.

While the 2026 powertrain framework is firm, there were concerns from all parties about the potential for a huge performance differential once the 2026 engines debut—similar to the early dominance seen from Mercedes in 2014. The group discussed possible regulatory tools to avoid such imbalances, which could include relaxing in-season engine development restrictions under the existing budget cap, giving newer or underperforming engine programs a chance to catch up.

While no decisions have been made, F1 will remain focused on ensuring the new hybrid era delivers competitive racing across the field rather than taking a step back in time.

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