AlpineCould Williams and McLaren find themselves without an engine supplier in 2026?

Are we heading towards a crisis situation? F1, a few months before the technical revolution planned for 2026? In recent weeks, rumors concerning discussions on the return to V10 engines have amplified, until they are confirmed by the FIA ​​itselfFaced with the 2026 engine regulations, deemed too complex and too ambitious by many in the sport, including the engine manufacturers themselves, the governing body could choose an alternative solution: sacrificing the 2026 engines in order to switch to V10 engines, using sustainable synthetic fuel, by 2028-2029. To wait until this deadline, F1 could thus continue to use the current power units.

While nothing has been finalized or made official at this time, the possibility of abandoning the future 2026 engines and returning to V10s is already generating a lot of ink in the world of Formula 1. A subject that divides and sparks many debates, which has its supporters and its detractors. And if there is one engine manufacturer that is firmly opposed to the idea of ​​extending the current engines and returning to V10s, it is MercedesThe German manufacturer is opposed to the abandonment of the 2026 engines and warns of the possible consequences of a last-minute U-turn by the FIA.

Mercedes facing a delicate situation

Speaking to The Race, Toto wolff, head of the Mercedes team, is sounding the alarm: if the current regulations were extended, then his three customer teams in 2026 – namely McLaren, Williams et Alpine – will not have an engine next year. “It’s impossible. I think it’s simply because we no longer have the necessary equipment. We don’t have the test benches, nor the batteries. None of that exists anymore, explains the Austrian leader. I think we could probably make an engine for ourselves as a factory team, but the rest is just impossible. As an engine manufacturer, we have long lead times to prepare, so you have to take that into account. And even if we wanted to [supply customers], there are things that are just impossible."

According to the rumours in the paddock, Mercedes would be the engine manufacturer with the most promising results regarding the 2026 engine. With its three customer teams, in addition to the factory team, the Stuttgart firm is in a strong position against the FIA, and the threat of a non-supply to Alpine, McLaren and Williams is not to be taken lightly on the FIA ​​side. Not to mention the complex situations in which they could find themselves Red Bull and Audi, which must design their own engine in 2026 and could find themselves with nothing next year if the new engine regulations are abandoned. It remains to be seen whether the FIA ​​will heed the warning signal from these teams or whether it will persist in its idea of ​​returning to V10s despite the skepticism surrounding F1...

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