Ferrari have now made a decision on major F1 rule change that Lewis Hamilton would absolutely love

Ferrari are looking to become champions for the first time since the late 2000s in 2025. After two races, that already seems unlikely.

The Maranello outfit have not won the drivers’ championship since 2007 and the constructors’ championship since 2008. Ferrari are looking to go one step further with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamiton after losing to McLaren in 2024 by 14 points.

However, the team have only amassed 17 points from the opening two races. A botched strategy in Melbourne cost a potential 1-2 finish while Hamilton’s Sprint win in Shanghai was overshadowed by Ferrari’s double disqualification in the Grand Prix.

The 2025 season could stand as the team’s last chance to fight for a title for some time. This year marks the final season of the current rules before F1 has an overhaul of the engine and chassis regulations in 2026.

Teams have been working on next year’s cars since January as the sport moves to being more sustainable, with a new power unit that is divided 50/50 between internal combustion and electrical power. However, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is already thinking ahead to 2030.

There have been discussions about bringing V10 engines back to F1, with talks even suggesting that the 2026 regulations could be scrapped already, allowing for an immediate switch to V10s.

Ferrari and Red Bull are ‘understood’ to be in support of a return of V10 engines

Hamilton would be in favour of V10s returning – as would Max Verstappen – as he remembers the roar of Michael Schumacher’s cars as a child.

Of course, this dramatic switch of the regulations would require support from F1, the FIA and the sport’s current manufacturers. As journalist Jon Noble pointed out via The Race, this would present a huge problem for newcomers Audi, who are joining F1 because of the 2026 regulations.

Therefore, as Noble noted, the other four manufacturers (Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and Honda) would have to be in favour of the move to V10s. He says that Ferrari and Red Bull are in the ‘pro camp’ already.

“With Audi giving every indication that it’s wedded to the new turbo hybrid rules, as they are the reason that its entered F1 and it sees them as delivering the technological innovation that is useful for road car development, its vote would almost certainly be against,” said Noble.

“That then means support would rely on the four other current manufacturers; Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and Honda, being in favour.

“In the pro camp already are understood to be Ferrari and Red Bull. Both manufacturers seem happy to push on with a change of direction that they think will be a positive in bringing down costs.

“Honda’s position has not been made public yet, but Mercedes made clear at the Chinese GP that it was open to discussion on the matter, suggesting it would be willing to back a change to a different engine concept like a V8 or V10 if it ticked all the right boxes in proving to be better to manufacturers and F1 itself.”

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2026 regulations being scrapped would present major problems for several teams

There is no doubt that a return to V10 engines would be a welcome one from fans, with many complaining that the current V6 turbo hybrids produce less noise compared to its predecessors.

A return to V10s could also bring Cosworth back to F1 after they left the sport in 2013. However, it is clear that a complete U-turn of the regulations – in scrapping the 2026 engines and sticking with the current ones until V10s are ready – is not possible.

Noble went on to say that such a change would require unanimous support from the teams and even if they were in support, it would create numerous problems. Audi would be ‘finished’ if F1 pursued that direction.

Furthermore, Honda’s switch to Aston Martin would leave Red Bull and Racing Bulls without a power unit. Ford, who the team are collaborating with to build their own engines, are solely focusing on the 2026 regulations.

It is a similar story at Mercedes, who are not in a position to do a U-turn on the development of their 2026 engines. While they can supply the works team, they will not have enough time to supply their customers – McLaren, Williams and Alpine – if the rules are scrapped.