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Report: V-10 Engines May Return to F1 Thanks to E-Fuels
The “roaring sound” of V-10s on full song could make a comeback in F1 as early as 2028.
It would be a remarkable turnaround for motorsports’ top tier, which is switching to new rules for next year that put a much bigger emphasis on electrification. The 2026 regulations, which helped to attract new entries Cadillac and Audi, use a further development of the hybrid formula that was first introduced in 2014. Under the revised regulations the V-6 engines will deliver around 50 percent of the power with e-motors providing the rest. Only kinetic energy recovery, known as MGU-K, will be allowed to reduce complexity, while the use of 100 percent sustainable fuel will also become compulsory.
Yet, since these changes were agreed in 2023, the world has turned and F.I.A. boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem has suggested that “we should consider a range of directions, including the roaring sound of the V-10 running on sustainable fuel.”
The F.I.A.’s head of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis, says that discussions on the turnaround are ongoing. “Things have changed,” Tombazis told The Race. “A significant factor is the perception, even amongst manufacturers, about the speed at which electrification will happen.
“This is a significant factor, we can’t deny it. Back in 2020, 2021, when these discussions were had, the trend was pretty decisively in the direction of electrification. I’m not saying that’s not happening, but certainly the views of the participants have changed since then.”
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With carbon-neutral sustainable fuel powering F1 from 2026 forward, the sport can still promote its eco-credentials while returning to the fan-favorite V-10 power units that disappeared almost a decade ago. Costs and car weight could also be reduced by ditching hybrid systems.
“The second thing is that even if Formula 1 is in very good health financially, it has become important also to protect it against world economic fluctuations,” added Tombazis. “We need to take these protective measures while the sun is shining and not when it starts raining, ideally. The drive to cut costs is important to consider.”
The next major change in Formula 1’s rules is not scheduled until 2031, but speculation in the paddock is that it could happen as soon as 2028 to enthuse a growing global audience drawn in by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and Brad Pitt’s upcoming F1 movie.
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Whatever scheme might get screaming V10’s back I’m all in. The current crop are just so blah in terms of sound.
Bringing the V-10s back? The hell you say. Unless Hydrogen V-10s are proposed for 2031. That would be something. Actually make the grid a few years later.
If anything, the electrification of race cars has resulted in unsustainable expense, ridiculous and troublesome complexity, added weight, and diminished aural pleasure/entertainment.
Bring back the V8 and/or the V10 – heck, remember the glorious music of the V- and flat-12s ? – reduce the absurd complexity and expense, and the racing and the entertainment product would be SO much better.
Steve – F-1 went to hybrids ten years ago. They seem to have figured it out pretty damn well. Not seeing a whole hell of a lot of mechanical problems on that front. Going back to a V-10 formula would cost much more than staying along the same lines as the current power package. They wouldn’t just go back to the old engine designs and pick up where they left off. That would require a significant investment . Sure I loved those days of insane how do these things not blow up at 21.5 in qualifying form. Yet F-1 has gotten their s**t together. It’s much more competitive than it was some years ago when there was little of any passing. Especially if your not just looking at who’s out front. GO WILLIAMS! GO!
sustainable fuel ! So because of new fuel it is somehow ok to have different engines and systems. Don’t get me wrong, I think the V6 hybrids sound like crap! I have been a car guy from a very early age. The bottom line is: 100 plus people accompany each and every F1 team for every race. Plus the air fare, air freight, sea freight, diesel trucking. No amount of so called GREEN fuel makes it all affordable. I’m a deicated fan of F1 but , lets not pretend.