F1 News
Wolff blasts Horner's V10 return idea: 'Driven by opotunistic thought'
In 2026 there will be a regulation overhaul, which unlike in 2022, it will not only limit itselve to revolutionising the chassis, but also the power units. Red Bull Racing chief, Christian Horner, has at times spoken about F1 coming back to V10 engines, something ardent rival, Toto Wolff, is evidently at odds with.
The sound of V10 engines being pushed is something most F1 fans certainly miss, and a reason, among others such as costs, behind Horner's argument for the series to return to V10's, a proposal that Wolff rejects. "First of all, we should be excited, about these new regulations coming in next year. We should be talking them up. This is our sport. It is important to have the positivity about it that such an exciting motor comes into the car," says Wolff to media including GPblog.
'F1 driven by technology, not opportunistic thoughts'
"We are pushing the boundaries of battery technology on sustainability. It's the first year we're having 100% sustainable fuel. Nobody knows how, where all of this is going to pan out. And that is really exciting that Formula One is trailblazing. So all of us stakeholders, I think we should be really cheering for this and making sure that the sport is perceived in such a high-tech way as it needs to be, and less driven by opportunistic thoughts," continues Wolff, describing Horner's proposal.
"This is a five year cycle. There's regulations in place whilst this is the journey onwards. Having a discussion about what comes afterwards, whether it is a V8, that we like a lot, that are maybe more road relevant than a V10 going forward. I think it's an exciting discussion to be had. What kind of hybrid system could be playing that role? Is that sound going to go up?," wonders Wolff about the current sound of engines in F1, or lack thereof.
"All this is really an interesting conversation within a lifecycle of regulations, and that [it’s] worth it. But at the moment, I think it's a bit premature. And we are at risk of diluting the messaging to the world if the year before we have even started these new exciting regulations, we talk about something that comes later," concludes the Mercedes team principal resolutely so.
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