Formula 1 bosses have rejected a proposal to reintroduce V10 naturally aspirated engines in the near future.
A meeting at the Bahrain Grand Prix between F1, governing body the FIA and the engine manufacturers agreed that the sport was committed to the revised hybrid engine rules that start next year.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been pushing behind the scenes the idea of abandoning the new rules before the end of their five-year cycle and switching to naturally aspirated V10s powered by sustainable fuels.
But the majority of car manufacturers involved in F1 preferred to stick with the new rules and made clear their commitment to hybrid power.
The 2026 regulations retain 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid engines but simplify their hybrid systems while increasing the proportion of total power provided by the electrical part of the engine from 20% to about 50%, as well as using fully sustainable fuels.
There have been concerns that the new engines, which have required the introduction of complex aerodynamic rules to guarantee the correct level of energy harvesting, could negatively impact the racing.
It was agreed at the meeting that the focus should be on the success of the new rules but that bosses will continue to discuss the direction of future F1 engine rules.
A statement from the FIA said it had been agreed at the meeting that “electrification will always be a part of any future considerations” and that “the use of sustainable fuel will be an imperative”.
There is also a focus on reducing cost and complexity in the engine rules.
A spokesperson for Audi said: “Our aim is to help shape a sustainable and future-oriented form of motorsport that leverages cutting-edge technologies, benefiting not only F1 but also Audi’s broader technological development which we see reflected in the 2026 power unit regulations.
“Audi remains fully committed to entering Formula 1 from 2026 onwards, with power unit technology built around three key pillars: highly efficient engines, advanced hybrid electrification, and the use of sustainable fuels.”
The FIA statement said that the aim of the meeting was to “to seek cost-effective solutions to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the sport and the business of F1”.
It added that the FIA had “firmly committed to the 2026 regulations”, which had “attracted new power-unit manufacturers to the sport, underlining that for the 2026 cycle the correct technical path has been chosen”.
Insiders say Ben Sulayem had charged his single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis in recent weeks with putting together a proposal that could make the idea of V10 powered by sustainable fuels work.
But although Ferrari and Red Bull were in favour of a return to V10s, they were out-voted by their competitors, who made it clear they would not countenance such a plan at this stage.
