Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies supports F1 return to V8 engine

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has thrown his support behind the idea of F1 returning to V8 engines, suggesting the Milton Keynes-based team's partnership with Ford could give them a head start. Despite the 2026 regulation tweaks introduced in Miami, the possibility of a switch back to V8s—last used in F1 in 2013—was raised by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who claimed the "V8 is coming," potentially as early as 2030, even without the backing of current engine manufacturers.

Why it matters:

This debate comes as F1 grapples with the direction of its power unit future. While the 2026 regulations introduced a new hybrid era, the V8 proposal adds uncertainty for teams that have already invested heavily in the current architecture. For Red Bull Ford Powertrains—debuting their first-ever power unit this season—the possibility of another change could disrupt their development curve, but Mekies sees it as an opportunity rather than a setback.

The details:

• Mekies stated that Red Bull Powertrains are "pretty cool" with the prospect of future engine changes, despite only starting from zero in 2026. "We feel we had to start from zero to go and try to deal with this power unit," he said. "We are still lacking some PU performance compared to Mercedes, but we feel that the guys did a phenomenal job to put us in a fight. So we are quite excited to have another challenge."
• Flexibility advantage: Although Red Bull-Ford lacks the decades of experience of rivals like Mercedes or Ferrari, Mekies believes they can be "more flexible and independent." He noted that not having a long history allows them to approach a new challenge without entrenched biases.
• Ford's V8 legacy: When asked about the iconic connection between Ford and V8 engines, Mekies joked: "Indeed, there is a V8 in the Ford Mustang that I’m lucky to drive every day in Milton Keynes. So, we may have an early start." This teasing suggests Ford's deep expertise in V8 production could translate into a tangible engineering advantage for Red Bull.

Between the lines:

The V8 proposal has split opinion. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly supports the idea, telling media to "count us in to come back with a real, real racing engine," but warned that moving away from electrification risks "losing connection to the real world." For Red Bull Ford, however, the V8 path could be a strategic win—aligning their powertrain identity with Ford’s most famous engine family and potentially leapfrogging more established rivals who would have to pivot from their hybrid expertise.

What's next:

The timeline remains unclear. Sulayem’s comments suggest a possible 2030 shift, but any change requires consensus from teams and manufacturers. For now, Mekies’ openness signals that Red Bull is not afraid of another technical reset—and may even welcome it as a chance to level the playing field. If the V8 does return, Ford’s legacy could turn from a novelty into a decisive competitive edge.