Formula One nostalgists could be celebrating the return of screaming V10s with a return to naturally aspirated engines now being actively discussed between teams and the FIA.
The sport is preparing for arguably its biggest ever rule changes next season when cars will undergo a full-scale overhaul on both the chassis and engine side.
The new ‘power unit’ formula - a hybrid concept which will feature a 50/50 split between electric and internal combustion power, running on sustainable fuel - has convinced new manufacturers such as Audi to enter the sport, and persuaded the likes of Honda to stay.
But it has also attracted critics because of the exorbitant cost involved in developing the technology, and because they will add a huge amount of weight to the car.
That is to say nothing of the noise, with many fans deriding the current 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged hybrid engines as little louder than lawnmowers.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted recently that he felt Formula 1 should at least consider switching back to V10 engines in the not-too-distant future, running on sustainable fuel.
And F1’s single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis gave a media briefing prior to Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix at which he admitted the concept was “being evaluated for 2028 or 2029” between grand prix racing’s manufacturers and the FIA.
“Certainly, the progress with sustainable fuels has led to the view that maybe the engines could be simpler,” he explained.
“The world economy does lead to views that maybe we should try to cut costs a bit more, and the current power units are way too expensive. That is a fact. We would like them to be cheaper, and that’s why the president made the comments about the V10 engine in ‘28 and so on.
“That’s something we are evaluating, or for ‘29 or whatever, with the PU manufacturers. We are discussing openly with them the best direction for the sport.”
Analysis: Could next year’s rules revamp be scrapped?
Understandably, if there was a broad consensus from teams and manufacturers to switch to V10s in three or four years, it would not make much sense to spend a lot more development money on the new turbo hybrids coming next year.
One suggestion has even been for the new engines to be scrapped completely. F1 could continue with the current power units until the switch to V10s is made.
This would, though, present all sorts of problems, not least for Audi who don’t have an alternative. Other teams, meanwhile, have already switched over their programmes to the new 2026 designs.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said earlier this week that as far as next year’s engines are concerned, “it’s ten-past-midnight and Cinderella’s left the building”.
In reality there is zero chance of continuing with the current power units. It would need unanimity from teams, and it is understood Mercedes, who are believed to have the leading PU for 2026, would definitely be against a switch for at least the next three seasons. But the manufacturer would not be against a return to V10s in 2029.
There remain other obstacles, including the fact that the old V10s were so noisy they could fall foul of noise pollution laws in some F1 host countries, notably the United States. But the idea is gaining traction.
Tombazis stressed there was no intention to railroad anyone. “Above all, the obligation is to be fair, and people have invested a lot of money,” he said. “If nine people are in favour and one person is against and that one person is being treated unfairly, we will always also try to protect the one person.
“We won’t just go on majorities and say, ‘OK let’s do it.’ We’re trying to build a consensus here, and if that fails, then we will stay where we are.”
