With new regulations in place for the 2026 racing season and beyond, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) recently sat down with representatives from its participating automakers to discuss the future of F1 racing. Among them was Ford Performance boss Mark Rushbrook, who chimed in on the road ahead – one that includes The Blue Oval as a power unit partner to Red Bull Racing.
The meeting, facilitated by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, focused on seeking cost-effective solutions to help manufacturers maintain their commitments to F1 racing while staying competitive. Long-term sustainability of the sport is paramount to its health, including focusing on sustainable fuel sources, a key goal for the teams moving forward.
Ford Performance – and other automakers like General Motors, which is joining F1 in 2026 as well – discussed the possibility of reducing powertrain costs for teams, dealing with global economic fluctuation, and reducing the complexity of F1 power units. The FIA also noted that while electrification is not a priority, it will still be a part of any future discussions. For now, though, the FIA will keep the 2026 regulations in place, which attracted Ford and GM to the table in the first place.
As for the future, there’s been a rumor that the FIA intends to swap from turbocharged power units back to naturally aspirated units that run on sustainable fuel. That change could put naturally aspirated V10s back on track after over 20 years of absence.
“Whichever engine roadmap is decided upon, the FIA is supportive of the teams and PU manufacturers in ensuring containment of costs of R&D expenditure, taking account of environmental considerations and acting in the best interests of the sport and the fans,” stated the FIA in a press release.
Simply put, current turbocharged V6 power units are expensive. Swapping to a simpler V10 would help cut costs for teams, which could prove invaluable to newcomers on the scene like Cadillac and Ford. As a reminder, Ford is rejoining the F1 grid in 2026, partnering with Red Bull Racing to create power units for the team’s two entries. The entire series will rely on brand new regulations starting in 2026, creating a welcome challenge for teams both new and old.
Comment
I’d rather see Ford back with Indycar, in a sole supplier women’s only series. Style like early 70’s open engine cars, finned flathead V8s (a max effort clean sheet engine). Make beautiful racecars, and it’s marketing gold.