The F1 teams will discuss various topics in Bahrain in a week, including the possibility of introducing V10 engines, possibly from the 2028 season, as revealed in Japan. It is certain that it will be discussed, but the use of V10 power units from the 2028 season is not feasible.
It was one of the Formula 1 teams from which a prominent member recently sent a WhatsApp message to GPblog. The trigger was a question from this site, whether there was indeed talk of a return of the V10 engines from 2028 in Formula 1, as various international media continue to report.
The message stated that the rumors were ‘completely incorrect.’ Particularly interesting was the addition: “Whoever is spreading this is manipulating the media with a hidden motive.” Which team that might be remains unclear, although Red Bull Racing seems the likely candidate. Why? More on that shortly.
FIA itself opened the door for V10’s
First, looking back a few weeks, when Nicholas Tombazis spoke about the return of the V10 engines during a conversation with the media, he initially referred to a comeback of the engines after 2030 – when the next engine regulations end. However, the Greek also did not rule out the possibility of using them earlier. Without explicitly saying it, the idea could be to extend the current engine cycle by two years and introduce the V10’s from 2028.
Reportedly, Ferrari and Red Bull are open to the idea. Especially at the latter team, this wouldn’t be surprising, as Red Bull is currently developing its own power units for the first time. GPblog has also learned that this development is not going smoothly, so the arrival of the much simpler V10’s could provide a solution.
One small problem: It has been agreed upon by the engine manufacturers and teams that the upcoming cycle will utilize 1.6-liter turbo hybrid engines, where the electric component will account for fifty percent of the power. This is also the reason Audi and Honda have stated their commitment for stepping into or remaining in Formula 1. V10 engines go against their objectives in the sport.
Koji Watanabe, the president of Honda Racing Corporation, said to the local edition of Motorsport.com in Japan: “As far as Honda is concerned, our reason for entering F1 again is electrification and (the type of) powertrains.” The mere rejection from these manufacturers makes the idea unfeasible, as everyone would need to agree to it.
And which engines will be used in 2026?
But even if that were the case, the idea is still not possible. Take Alpine, which will stop using their own engines after the current season. What would they run with in 2026? Would the factory need to be restarted? Or Red Bull, should they still rely on Honda for the next two years? Moreover, all teams have begun building cars for 2026, thus making last-minute changes impossible.
Or perhaps continue with the 2026 engines and then switch after two years? As mentioned, Audi and Honda will not agree to this. Even if they did, additional costs would need to be incurred, as entirely new engines would have to be built after two years. The investment for 2026 and 2027 would never be recouped.
Certainly, there are many hardcore racing fans excited about the idea of a quick return of the V10. However, there is simply no conceivable way that this idea could currently be realized without at least two engine suppliers leaving Formula 1. And that is the last thing the sport needs.
