Hopes of V10 engines making a comeback in Formula 1 have been quashed following a meeting in Bahrain.
On Friday, engine manufacturers gathered with F1 and the FIA at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama to address speculation, driven largely by Red Bull, Ferrari, and Cadillac, about delaying or revising the electrified 2026 regulations.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc voiced concerns: "What we are seeing now (for 2026) is not great. Not only for racing, but for everything. Even in terms of safety, it is quite tricky in some cases."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen shared a similar view. "I think everyone—at least most people—agree that a V10 is cool and sounds better," he said.
"Anyone who doesn't think so is probably a bit crazy, but you also have to look at the situation in the world. You also have to listen to the manufacturers—what they want. They wanted something different and it was decided a few years ago."
Red Bull boss Christian Horner, however, summed up the meeting bluntly to Blick newspaper: "Nothing. The meeting was scheduled for three hours. After 70 minutes, we had nothing more to say to each other. There was no vote at all. So, a lot of blah blah blah."
Auto Motor und Sport reported the outcome as "a victory for Mercedes, Honda and Audi," with the 2026 rules unchanged.
A minor concession for V10 advocates was the scheduling of a follow-up meeting to explore relaxing strict homologation rules.
The FIA reiterated its stance: "The FIA has firmly committed to the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The FIA technical department, together with a number of stakeholders, has invested a lot of time in the framing of the 2026 regulations on hybrid power units with 100 percent sustainable fuel."
It added: "All parties agreed to continue discussions on the future technical direction of the sport."
Audi, set to power Sauber in 2026, welcomed the decision. "Audi remains fully committed to entering Formula 1 from 2026, with power unit technology built around three key pillars—highly efficient engines, advanced hybrid electrification, and the use of sustainable fuels," a spokesperson said.
