Christian Horner urges F1 to bring back fan-favorite V10 engines

Christian Horner backed Mohammed Ben Sulayem's recent idea of reintroducing the loud, high-revving V10 engines in Formula 1.

Christian Horner urges F1 to bring back fan-favorite V10 engines

Christian Horner (via Getty)

Formula 1 has undergone multiple major changes in the sport, especially regarding the hybrid engines. Before switching to hybrid power units, the challengers used to contain powerful 3.0L V10 engines. Christian Horner resonated with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem‘s comments, urging them to bring back the roaring engines.

The V10 engine quickly rose to become a fan favorite due to its notable sound and monumental pace and performance. Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently shocked everyone by talking about a potential return of naturally aspirated engines. With the changing regulations of the 2026 season, Christian Horner raised some concerns on the same.

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Horner emphasized that the power unit regulations for the 2026 season are ‘very complex and expensive’. The 51-year-old pointed out that the ‘purist’ in him would like to revert to the V10 engines in Formula 1. However, the Briton believed that the older engines should still use sustainable fuel while bringing back the roaring sound of the fastest single-seater chassis.

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I think, inadvertently, we’ve ended up with a very, very expensive, very complex engine from ’26 onwards – and I think the purist in me would love to go back to a V10 that was done responsibly with sustainable fuel, that reintroduced the sound of Grand Prix racing.

Christian Horner told Planetf1

Christian Horner claims sustainable fuel opens ‘numerous opportunities’ for F1

Formula 1 proudly boasts the use of sustainable fuel in the challengers despite reaching extreme speeds on track. The sport has continued to advocate more use of such fuels in their attempt to remain eco-friendly. Christian Horner reckoned that with the upcoming set of regulations, sustainable fuel opened all kinds of possibilities for the pinnacle of motorsport.

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen (via F1)

Personally, from a sporting perspective, looking at what the future engine in Formula 1 should be beyond this next generation, I think, particularly with the way that sustainable fuel is going in, [it] does open up all kinds of opportunities.

Christian Horner noted

Horner seems to be in favor of V10 engines following Ben Sulayem’s recent revelation. A majority of the spectators would also love the loud roaring engines back in the challenger. However, given the sport’s advancements in hybrid technology and its push for sustainability, a return to traditional fuel-powered V10s seems unlikely. Regardless, the sport might try its hands at a hybrid form of a V10 engine, capable of producing even more power for half the emissions and equal sound output.