There were discussions in F1 to keep the current rules for 2 more years and switch straight to V10s in 2028. Another idea: Keep the 2026 regs for only 3 instead of 5 years before the V10 switch. FIA already set up a V10 working group.
The Formula 1 community has been discussing a contingency plan for the future for weeks. It sounds like a crazy idea, but it's increasingly taking on a serious meaning. The current regulations are to be extended by two years, with the goal of switching directly to cheaper V10 engines powered by climate-neutral fuel. This would be a complete reversal of Formula 1's plans to make the sport even more attractive to car companies.
The starting point was Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali's praise of the V10 engine. Powered by climate-neutral fuel, it would be a solution for the premier class, Domenicali thought aloud. It is cheaper and simpler than current powertrains and also than the hybrid drive system planned for 2026. It allows for smaller and lighter cars.
What initially sounded like a pipe dream suddenly gained momentum. F1 management has other reasons to fear next year's major rule reform. It could jeopardize the balance in the field and thus the excitement. With new cars, new engines, new tires, and the great unknown of e-fuels, there's a great danger that one driver will interpret the new rules better than everyone else and then pull off a show.
Already during the tests in Bahrain, heated discussions about the theoretical models continued in Melbourne. Neither Formula 1 nor the FIA has made a clear statement about the direction the premier class will take. They are waiting to see how the situation develops and which camp exerts more pressure.
Because a continuation of the existing regulations is impractical and enforcement would threaten lawsuits from the aggrieved parties, an alternative plan is also under discussion. According to this, the 2026 engine regulations would only apply for three years instead of five. The FIA statutes allow this.
