One unnamed ‘insider’ is quoted saying: “The manufacturers who are putting the most pressure on [to drop the new rules] are those who already know that they are behind schedule with their 2026 engine.”
It is said that Ferrari and Red Bull are thought to be among those in favour of a V10 return.
However, a decision to delay the 2026 rules would likely leave Red Bull in trouble as the team have no engine in place to compete under the current regulations.
Red Bull’s newly established engine division, Red Bull Powertrains, has been working on a 2026 power unit in conjunction with US giants Ford ahead of Honda’s switch to Aston Martin from next season.
Audi F1 would be faced with the same predicament with the German manufacturer working solely on an engine for the 2026 rules.
Of course this only comes up after they’re able to officially work on the 2026 car and after the official announcement that Cadillac will join. It’s definitely posturing at this point just trying to find a competitive advantage among the smoke. I find it hard to believe that redbull or Ferrari would both be completely unprepared for the 26 regulations.
I guess we will see but I highly doubt the engine rules will change given cost caps, new team joining and existing work already going into next years cars. Maybe I’m being naive having only followed the sport for 9 years now but seems unlikely in my opinion
Yeah I feel the same, they probably want something else (that would limit the other teams) and are making this suggestion in order to get the FIA to agree to alterations.
Good old “Request the world and settle for what you actually wanted in the first place” strategy