Red Bull declares stance on looming radical F1 rule change

Red Bull Powertrains has signaled its openness to F1's planned shift from turbo hybrids back to naturally-aspirated V8 or V10 engines for the next power unit cycle starting in 2030 or 2031. Laurent Mekies, a senior figure at the team, confirmed the stance, contrasting with the historical dominance of Mercedes in the hybrid era.

Why it matters:

F1's engine regulations are set for a major overhaul, and Red Bull — a relative newcomer to engine manufacturing — is positioning itself to embrace the change. A fresh start could level the playing field after Mercedes won 10 of 12 constructors' titles since 2014.

The details:

• FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed plans for naturally-aspirated V8 or V10 engines with hybrid battery systems from 2030/31.
• Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has also indicated openness, despite Mercedes HPP's dominance throughout the turbo hybrid era.
• Red Bull Powertrains entered F1 for the first time in 2026, with Ford providing technical support. Mekies praised the team's progress: "We started from zero and did a phenomenal job to put us in the fight."
• He acknowledged "We are still lacking some PU performance compared to Mercedes," but remains upbeat: "We are quite excited to have another challenge, and we are probably a bit more flexible and independent."
• Mekies joked that driving a Ford Mustang V8 daily gives them an early start on the new engine concept.

What's next:

The rule change remains years away, giving Red Bull time to close the performance gap and prepare. Their lack of legacy investment in hybrid technology could prove advantageous.