F1’s President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has stated he’s fully in favour of the game’s potential return to V8 engines amid persevering with discontent with F1’s present set of rules.
Domenicali has spent lots of the 2026 season defending the brand new guidelines. Upon F1’s return amid a collection of rule tweaks, the Italian argued the Miami GP performed host to “actually fantastic racing”, having had the opposing views from the likes of and to take care of in months prior – the previous threatening to depart F1 altogether such is his disregard for 2026’s racing.
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Talking in Miami, Domenicali stated: “In fact, the rules are what they’re and there may be fixed evolution, however that has all the time been a part of . Along with all of the events concerned in shaping the rules, we attempt to consider altering traits and developments, however proper now we’re centered on the truth that the races are actually thrilling… I’m proud of the second we’re presently experiencing.”
Verstappen and Hamilton disagree with Russell over F1 rules
Photograph: Race Photos
Photograph: Race Photos
Since F1’s return, nonetheless, drivers’ views have continued to stay combined to say the least. In Montreal, Verstappen initially stated proposed adjustments to alter the 50:50 break up between inner combustion and electrical energy to 60:40 may see him keep in F1, earlier than strolling again on these feedback because the weekend went on.
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Talking after his P3 end in Montreal, Verstappen stated: “Even in the event you would give us a rental automobile, we’ll provide you with a very good present and we’ll race one another very arduous and properly. So it has nothing to do in that sense with the principles. However for me, whereas driving, yeah, it’s all a bit complicated. It’s not what System 1 must be about. It’s manner too advanced, all of this.”
On the identical press convention, Hamilton, who completed in P2 for Ferrari, argued that racing within the 2026 automobiles “doesn’t really feel what motorsport must be.” He added: “The engine must be ringing its neck off proper to the tip of the straight and simply pulling and pulling. That’s what they used to do within the V8 instances or the V10 instances.”
Nevertheless, , regardless of his crushing DNF in Montreal, spoke as one of many only a few F1 2026 defenders so far as the drivers are involved. The 28-year-old has argued in opposition to adjustments to the ability items after what was an exhilarating 30-lap battle together with his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Russell stated to GPblog and others: “I haven’t seen a battle like this, most likely since Lewis and Nico in Bahrain 2014 and these new automobiles let you try this. These new engines permit me to do this. I don’t know why anyone desires to alter them, as a result of we had wonderful battles in Melbourne, we had nice battles in China, Kimi and I’ve had an ideal battle right this moment and yesterday, and that’s solely potential due to how these energy items are in order that’s my view.”
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Domenicali newest to help F1’s V8 engine return
Photograph: Race Photos
Photograph: Race Photos
Noise surrounding a possible transfer again to V8 engines, not utilized in F1 since 2013, has solely elevated after feedback made by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Miami. The Emirati claimed the “V8 is coming” presumably as early as 2030, and even when F1’s energy unit producers don’t all approve.
Three weeks later, the F1 CEO and President himself has now supported F1’s return to V8s. Chatting with French publication L’Equipe, Domenicali stated he was “1000 p.c in favour of the V8,” earlier than describing lighter automobiles and easier engines as “the pure essence of motor racing”. The 61-year-old is the most recent high-profile determine in F1 to help the concept following Ben Sulayem’s feedback.
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In Miami, Mercedes boss quickly after, telling GPblog and others: “Lengthy-term, I believe from a Mercedes standpoint we’re open to new engine rules. We love V8s, that has solely nice reminiscences. From our perspective it is a pure Mercedes engine, it revs excessive.
Wolff admitted F1 dangers “wanting a bit ridiculous” by shifting again to V8s, however nonetheless stated: “If it is properly deliberate and executed, we Mercedes, depend us in to come back again with an actual, actual racing engine.” Rival crew principal Laurent Mekies of Pink Bull , teasing an early benefit because of the crew’s energy practice partnership with Ford.
Talking of Ford, the American producer’s Racing Chief Mark Rushbrook has additionally , telling The Detroit Information: “It is nice to see the FIA and System One already speaking about what’s the subsequent set of rules. We’re a stakeholder within the sport (and) we’ll share our standpoint. However definitely, as an organization that makes lots of naturally aspirated V8s, we’d like to see a V8 right here.”
