While the return of the V10 is a story that had aroused much illusion in the paddock, it is clear that it is not viable in the short term. The 2026 hybrid engines continue and therefore, we will have to wait a few more years to return the sound that so many purists miss, if it ever returns.
The F1 Commission, before its meeting this Friday, has reaffirmed its commitment to the regulations of V6 hybrid power units that were presented there by 2022 and that have been decisive to attract automotive giants such as Audi and Ford and to convince Honda to continue in Formula 1 as Motorist.
As British Magazine Autosport progresses, the return of the V10 is completely discarded in the short term. Of course, what is not disposable is that the FIA carry out small touch -ups in the power deployment of the new engines to end the concerns that cars are left without battery in the middle of line in circuits such as Yeda, Baku, Las Vegas or Monza.
The FIA already thinks of a system that will prevent pilots from using all the electrical power immediately, for more manual consumption along the lap. In accordance with the information of the aforementioned head, it seeks to prevent cars from wearing the battery too soon and thus put an end to any fear of a radical decrease in the velocity in the lines.
For 2026 engines, the deployment of electricity will be the same as that of the combustion engine, with a total of 350 kW available to the pilot. However, they are adjustments in which the FIA can reach hand and change it and in fact, it has been proposed to reduce that total power to 200kw, thus giving more prominence to the term term and thus the electrical power is more constant during the return.
It is an issue that will be subject to debate at the meeting of the F1 Commission tomorrow. Decreasing total electrical power in 150kw would make the cast 65/35 in favor of the thermal engine, although if that decision is finally made, there would be more points to clarify. Will that reduction in electrical power only in the race or in all sessions? Will it be carried out in the most sensitive circuits for the engine or in all?
It is clear that the five manufacturers, six if we include Cadillac, have their own interests and each one will tighten for their own benefit, but it is clear that a key element of the coming years in Formula 1 will be subjected to debate tomorrow. Sooner rather than later we will discover the results and consequences.
In manufacturers and according to the information of Autosport, Audi and Honda they are not for the work of accepting any kind of change, like Mercedes, which has already publicly stated it. Red Bull does open the doors to it, while Ferrari is not yet clear what sip the choosing in this political dispute.
