Christian Horner rejects cancellation of the 2026 F1 rules: “Cinderella has already left the palace”. Christian Horner acknowledged the potential flaws in the new regulations.

Return of the V10s?
As reported in recent days, the FIA and Formula 1 have hinted at the possibility of bringing back naturally aspirated V10 engines in the not-too-distant future.
There was speculation about canceling the new regulatory cycle set to begin in 2026, with an alternative plan to extend the current cars for another two years to pave the way for a V10 return in 2028.

However, this idea is unrealistic given the advanced stage of development for next season’s cars and the significant investments teams and engine manufacturers have already made to prepare for the 2026 regulations. A more reasonable option would be to shorten the upcoming regulatory cycle from five years to three, allowing for a V10 comeback in 2029. But even this proposal faces strong opposition from manufacturers like Audi and Honda, who have committed to the 2026 engine regulations.

Teams Push Back
During the team principals’ press conference, Christian Horner (Red Bull), Zak Brown (McLaren), and Oliver Oakes (Alpine) all expressed openness to V10 engines in the future but, predictably, rejected any cancellation of the 2026 rules.

Christian Horner acknowledged the potential flaws in the new regulations: “I see some possible limitations regarding the spectacle and racing. We’ve ended up in a situation where the chassis has to compensate significantly for the shortcomings between electrification and combustion. But in any case, as they say, it’s ten past midnight, and Cinderella has already left the palace. The V10 is romantically very appealing, but for when? What plan is on the table? Abandoning what we’ve been working on for 2026 would be a massive shift.”

Oliver Oakes was equally firm: “The train has already left the station for 2026. I think a later date will be set—we’re already quite advanced for next year.” Zak Brown was more diplomatic but still skeptical: “We’re happy and ready to race under any regulations. A V10 with sustainable fuel would be fantastic. But I don’t see how we can walk away from something already in place—Audi is coming, Alpine has partnered with Mercedes. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”