The FIA says it remains committed to the all-new 2026 power unit regulations after a crucial meeting with F1 and engine manufacturers at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but that "normally-aspirated" engines could return.
There has been speculation in recent weeks that the all-new power units set for introduction in 2026 could be delayed or even scrapped altogether in favour of a return to V10 engines, with sustainable fuels.
However, Audi, Honda and Mercedes all rejected the possibility with the new units with increased electrical power and the removal of the MGU-H now set for introduction from next season.
The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem called the meeting, which all six power unit manufacturers attended, with Red Bull Powertrains and Ferrari joining, as did General Motors, which is entering F1 next season with Cadillac and will produce an in-house unit for 2028.
In the "constructive" meeting also attended by senior figures such as F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, FIA technical chief Nikolas Tombazis, Toto Wolff, Christian Horner and Fred Vasseur, the FIA confirmed that the 2026 rules are to be introduced as intended.
"The FIA technical department, together with a number of stakeholders, has invested a lot of time in the framing of the 2026 regulations on hybrid Power Units with 100% sustainable fuel," read a statement.
"The 2026 regulations, governing Power Unit and chassis, have attracted new Power Unit manufacturers to the sport – underlining that for the 2026 cycle, the correct technical path has been chosen."
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Crucial FIA meeting on engines
Despite the agreement, the parties, including Mercedes-Benz chief Ola Kallenius, Honda Racing president Koji Watanabe, and Audi chief Gernot Dollner, were open to the possibility of "normally aspirated" engines returning to F1.
The plans for the reintroduction of V10 engines would come with sustainable fuels, with the meeting discussing reducing the costs of developing F1 powertrains as hundreds of millions of dollars has been spent on producing the 2026 units as well as the overall complexity of the designs.
The meeting concluded with all parties committing to future discussions on the technical direction of F1, with electrification set to "always" be part of future discussions.
Plans for adjustments to the power unit financial regulations were given consideration as part of an overall cost reduction, with the policing of those regulations set to be a "priority."
The meeting also discussed "building resilience" into the F1 ecosystem as it navigates outside fluctuations of the global economy as markets and trade are uncertain in the wake of US President Donald Trump levying tariffs worldwide.
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