A major change to F1’s engine regulations is on the horizon, and with Mercedes in, what does Red Bull make of the potential V8 return?
Red Bull Powertrains is open to the idea of transitioning from turbo hybrids back to normally-aspirated engines for the next engine cycle in F1, said Laurent Mekies. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently confirmed F1’s return to V8 or V10 naturally-aspirated engines with battery systems by 2030 or 2031. Despite Mercedes HPP’s dominance in the turbo hybrid era, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is open to this change. Red Bull Powertrains, supported by Ford, made their F1 debut as a PU manufacturer in 2026, expressing a welcome to V8 or V10 engines. Mekies mentioned that the team is prepared for the challenge and excited about the flexibility and independence this change could bring. He noted the performance gap to Mercedes but emphasized the team’s enthusiasm for the upcoming shift.
