As the FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem is not one to shy away from proposing new ideas, regardless of the skepticism they might face. His latest pitch, bringing back Formula 1’s V10 engines powered by sustainable fuel, is one that has seen considerable support, despite some dissenting voices.
Ben Sulayem has made a habit of throwing himself into projects wholeheartedly, whether it’s his campaign against drivers using foul language or the prohibition of jewelry in F1. However, his recent suggestion to re-introduce the V10 engines, if they can be fuelled sustainably, has garnered significant backing.
In a recent social media post, Ben Sulayem stated, “We should consider a range of directions including the roaring sound of the V10 running on sustainable fuel.” He added that the FIA must back teams and manufacturers in controlling research and development costs. Given his track record of persistence, his vision of V10s, and the fact the FIA might establish a working group to formally examine the proposal, it definitely warrants serious attention.
The concept of sustainable fuels enabling the return of V10s isn’t novel. It has surfaced on various occasions over the years. After a sustainably-fuelled demonstration run at the 2022 British Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel suggested that this route would be superior to the existing turbo hybrids. While his idea was initially dismissed, it has persistently lingered in the background.
Current F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hasn’t singled out V10s as his preferred choice, but he acknowledged last year that F1 could veer away from the current turbo hybrids. He suggested that if a sustainable fuel could achieve zero emissions and sustainability targets, F1 wouldn’t need to invest in complicated or expensive engine development.
But why has the V10 topic gained traction now? One reason is logical timing. With the 2026 engine regulations nearly finalized, now is the right moment to envision the next rules era. Additionally, both fans and teams widely support the return of V10s, which is a significant boost in an FIA election year.
However, not all voices in the conversation are in favour. There are concerns that the renewed V10 debate could jeopardize the 2026 turbo hybrids before they even hit the track. One lesson from 2014, when the turbo hybrids first faced criticism, was that communication is critical.
Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff believes it’s crucial to focus on the positives of the upcoming turbo hybrids, such as the 50/50 power split between internal combustion and electric power and the shift to fully sustainable fuels. He argues that stakeholders should be excited about the new regulations and promote the sport’s high-tech image.
While there will be a time to consider the future of Formula 1 and evaluate options like V10s, V8s, or hydrogen, Wolff cautions that the timing is premature. The risk, he says, is diluting the message to the world before the new regulations have even been implemented. It’s a delicate balance between looking to the future and not undermining the present endeavours in F1.
