The FIA has caused a lot of drama ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season with moves to clamp down on drivers swearing yet reviving V10 engines may tempt a giant to return.
Racing is now less than a month away with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16 kicking off the 2025 F1 season. It also starts the last year of the current rules for car designs and power units, with teams facing a massive overhaul with the 2026 F1 engine and chassis regulations.
But F1’s governing body the FIA is already looking ahead to the 2030 season, when yet more changes to the engine regulations are expected. The FIA is having to look past what is on the horizon in 2026 due to the lengthy lead time that constructors need to design a power unit.
Potentially in an attempt to get supporters back on its side after fans booed the FIA at F1 75 amid the FIA clamping down on F1 drivers swearing, its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has floated the idea that Formula 1 could bring back V10 engines with the 2030 regulations.
The FIA could tempt Cosworth to return to Formula 1 with V10 engines from 2030
Now, a report by The Race has suggested the FIA could tempt legendary engine constructor Cosworth to return to Formula 1 by introducing V10 power units from 2030. The FIA is fully evaluating each option for the next engine regulation change and it has not ruled out V10s.
Returning to V10 engines with the 2030 power unit rules could cut costs for constructors in research, development and production. It can also entice privateer manufacturers to return, with Cosworth the last independent engine constructor to compete in F1 in the 2013 term.
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Cosworth pulled out of Formula 1 following the 2013 season after deciding against creating an engine for the 1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid power unit regulations introduced in 2014. Yet it did consider returning to F1 ahead of the 2021 season when changes were floated to the rules.
Only Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda ultimately designed engines between the 2014 and 2025 seasons to meet the 1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid regulations. But they – apart from one after Renault closed Alpine’s works engine project – will be joined by Audi in the 2026 term.
What FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said about F1 bringing back V10 engines
The FIA acknowledges that it is a risk to rely on car manufacturers wanting to be on F1’s grid in future seasons, so is open to studying V10 engines as a way to entice more privateers like Cosworth – which recorded lots of success in Formula 1 – to create power units from 2030.
Thanks largely to its time designing the legendary DFV V8 in partnership with Ford between 1967 and 1983, Cosworth engines have powered cars which won 10 constructors’ titles and 13 drivers’ titles plus 176 Grand Prix wins, 535 podium finishes and 140 pole positions ever.
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FIA president Ben Sulayem now publicly suggesting that V10 engines could be the route that F1 takes with the 2030 power unit regulations could well entice Cosworth to explore making a comeback. But, despite his public statement, the 2030 rules are still in a very early phase.
“While we look forward to the introduction of the 2026 regulations on chassis and power units, we must also lead the way on future technological motorsport trends,” he declared.
“We should consider a range of directions including the roaring sound of the V10 running on sustainable fuel… Delivering for our members and fans will always be at the heart of all we do alongside [our] important work to make the sport safer and more sustainable.”
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