Red Bull Racing Boss Christian Horner Backs Potential Return to V10 Engines
A New Era for Formula One?
Red Bull Formula One boss Christian Horner has expressed support for an eventual return to V10 engines, despite his team’s significant investment in designing their own power unit for the new era starting in 2026.
The Case for V10 Engines
Naturally aspirated V10s, which disappeared from the starting grid in 2006, are known for their distinctive sound and are being considered as a future option with sustainable fuel. The FIA recently announced that discussions are ongoing with stakeholders over the sport’s technical direction from 2030, and a working group will be established to explore all possibilities.
Horner’s Perspective
According to Horner, the purist in him would love to see a return to V10 engines, responsibly powered by sustainable fuel, which would reintroduce the sounds of grand prix racing. "Personally, from a sporting perspective, looking at what the future engine of Formula One should be beyond this next generation, particularly with the way that sustainable fuel is going, it does open up all kinds of opportunities," he said.
The Cost of Complexity
However, Horner acknowledged that the team’s investment in designing their own power unit for the new era has resulted in a "very, very expensive, very complex engine" from 2026 onwards. "Inadvertently, we’ve ended up with a very, very expensive, very complex engine from ’26 onwards," he said.
The Future of Formula One
As the sport moves forward, Horner believes that the concept of V10 engines with sustainable fuel is an interesting one to explore after the current set of regulations. "It’s an interesting concept and one to certainly look for after this current set of regulations," he added.
Red Bull’s Future Plans
Red Bull, who will be partnered by Ford from 2026 after a split from Honda, have built a powertrain plant next to their Milton Keynes headquarters. The team will need to adapt to the new regulations and potentially explore alternative engine options in the future.
Conclusion
Christian Horner’s support for a potential return to V10 engines is an interesting development in the world of Formula One. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the FIA and stakeholders approach the technical direction of the sport in the years to come.
FAQs
- What is the current engine configuration in Formula One?
The current engine configuration in Formula One is the V6 turbo-hybrid unit. - What is the proposed return to V10 engines?
The proposal is to use naturally aspirated V10 engines with sustainable fuel, which would reintroduce the sounds of grand prix racing. - What is the timeline for the potential return to V10 engines?
The FIA has announced that discussions are ongoing with stakeholders over the sport’s technical direction from 2030, with a working group to be established to explore all possibilities.