In recent weeks, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) president Ben Sulayem has made mention of a possible return to V10s running on sustainable fuels as a possible next-generation engine concept that could be in use as early as the 2028 season. And while that idea may be popular amongst many who see the V10 era of F1 as a great period of competition, such a change would be incredibly costly to companies like Audi, Ford and Honda who embraced the current more simplified hybrid engine formula due to begin competition next season.
Next year’s hybrid formula is considerably cheaper to produce than the current hybrid power plants as it shifts to no longer include the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat) component. Under next year’s formula, the engines will also produce three-times the electrical power and run on 100 percent sustainable fuels.
It was this evolution of the hybrid concept that helped Audi finalize its plans to join F1. They also weren’t alone in their attraction to the formula, with Ford stepping up to partner with Red Bull and Honda reversing course on a planned exit from the sport as an engine supplier.
The current regulations lay out a five-year window for the 2026-spec turbo hybrid, keeping the engine designs in use through the 2030 season. However, it’s also revealed that even these new less-expensive hybrids are still too costly, causing them to consider cutting that shorter to as early as a 2028 completion of use.
How then to proceed will be dictated along the guidelines of F1’s Powerunit Governance Agreement. For any change, there’d need to be agreement between the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and four additional manufacturers currently involved in the series.
In a statement to The Race, Audi laid out its position on the idea of such a V10 shift. First and foremost, the message from Ingolstadt reads, “The upcoming regulation changes, including the new hybrid power unit regulations set for the 2026 season and beyond, were a key factor in Audi’s decision to enter Formula 1.”
It goes on to say, “These power unit regulations reflect the same technological advancements that drive innovation in Audi’s road cars.”
Interestingly, Audi was one of the last manufacturers of a roadgoing V10, though that engine ended production last year when the R8 and its chassis sibling the Lamborghini Huracán ended their production cycle. And while new R8 rumors based on the Lamborghini Temerario have been making the rounds, the Audi would make use of the flat plane 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 hybrid already seen in the Temerario.
Even more frustrating for Audi would be how a transition to a 2028 V10 formula would transpire. Were Formula 1 to go this direction, shifting to the updated hybrid formula likely wouldn’t happen and the current engines would be kept until the V10s come online.
That’s far from optimum for Audi, who took its first stake in Sauber in 2023 and has been racing with Ferrari engines ever since, initially under the Alfa Romeo banner due to Sauber’s contractual obligations and now as Stake Sauber F1. The plan was to race as Audi once the team shifted to its new chassis and Audi-developed engine for the 2026 season.
Honda is set to shift from supplying engines to Red Bull to Aston Martin for 2026, while Ford and Red Bull’s new relationship will also see a new pairing. Neither of these teams would have engine deals for 2026 and 2027 if the shift to V10 were to be adopted. Even still, it’s Red Bull and Ferrari who appear to be most vociferously advocating for a V10 shift.
Honda hasn’t made a statement on the subject of a V10 shift as of this writing, though Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team principal Toto Wolff did comment when asked while at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Wolff said, “We as Mercedes are always open, whether that’s in the future an eight or ten cylinder, naturally aspirated or turbo, energy recovery and whatever size. Absolutely you need to be open minded. We’re all racers. We like the engines of the past, and then you need to strike the right balance between what is exciting to us dinosaurs, screaming loud engines, and then the fanbase.”
Even still, Wolff also signaled his unwavering approval next year’s hybrid formula stating, “I think we’re racing with exciting regulations next year that were brought in by the FIA to accommodate newcomers like Audi, and I guess we achieved that,” he said. “This is what we should be looking forward to.”
Editor’s Note: A story on The Race was a major source for information for this story, including the statement from Audi and also quotes from Toto Wolff of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1.