It's not just the FIA president who is considering it. Max Verstappen would actually stay in Formula 1 longer if the V10 engine makes a comeback.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen can usually get what he wants. The question is whether he can also get the V10 engine back in Formula 1.
In any case, the fast Dutchman has said that he will extend his career in the premier class of motorsport if the many cylinders make a comeback in cars.
– I don't make the rules, but for the sport, a V10 engine is definitely much better.
– I remember when, as a child, I followed Formula 1 with the sound of the engines.
– It said so much more. The speed of the cars may have been slower, but the feeling you got from those engines is something you can't compare to what we have.
Reuters writes.
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028. When asked if the V10 engines might tempt him to stay longer in Formula 1, he did not answer dismissively.
– Maybe. It's definitely more exciting with the engines we're racing with now, the four-time world champion said.
Right now, all cars in the Formula 1 field run with a 1.6-liter V6 engine with turbo and hybrid assistance. The upcoming rule changes from the 2026 season will not change that recipe.
At least not fundamentally. Although the hybrid part should be part of the overall package. As recently as February, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem more than hinted that the V10 engine could make a comeback.
Formula 1 abandoned the V10 engines after the 2005 season, when they switched to a V8 the following year. In 2014, the V6s were introduced.
– As we look forward to the introduction of the new regulations in 2026, we must also be at the forefront of future technology trends in motorsport.
– We should consider a number of directions, including the roaring sound of the V10 running on sustainable fuel.
– It will always be important to delight our fans, along with all the work we do to make the sport safer and more sustainable, said the president, sounding like a former rally driver and current FIA frontman.
