Max Verstappen has said that a return to the roaring V10 engines of old could be the spark to keep him racing in the sport beyond his current Red Bull contract.
While the Dutch driver’s future remains a hot topic, whether he stays with Red Bull or switches teams for a stint elsewhere, his passion for a louder, more emotional era of F1 has reignited debate among fans and insiders alike.
The Red Bull are locked in with Verstappen through 2028, but the 27-year-old has hinted at other ambitions. He’s been vocal about wanting to explore different motorsport challenges, while also growing weary of F1’s packed calendar, 24 races and six sprints in 2025, and what he sees as stifling over-regulation. Yet, one idea seems to pull him back: the return of V10 power.
Talk of V10 engines, once the thunderous heartbeat of F1, has surfaced again, this time with a modern twist, sustainable fuels to make them greener than their gas-guzzling ancestors.
While the sport is charging toward its 2026 rules overhaul, ditching the MGU-H and embracing fully sustainable fuels, a shift that’s lured Audi, welcomed Ford back and teed up General Motors for 2028, the V10 chatter feels like a nostalgic long shot. Still, it’s a conversation that won’t quiet down.
Verstappen, never shy with his opinions, has weighed in. “I’m not in charge of the rules,” he said. “But of course, for the pure emotion of the sport, a V10 is definitely much better than what we have now.”
Reflecting on his childhood, he added, “When you walked around and heard the noise of those engines, it brought so much more, even if the cars were maybe slower. The feeling you got from an engine like that is something you can’t describe compared to what we have now.”
When pressed on whether a V10 revival might convince him to stick around in F1 longer, his response was telling. “Maybe. Yeah,” he said. “It’s definitely more exciting than what we have currently.”
For a driver who’s dominated the grid, that hint of enthusiasm could shift the calculus of his career.
For now, Verstappen and Red Bull are gearing up for the next challenge: the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. Set for March 23, the race will see 56 laps around the 5.451-kilometer Shanghai International Circuit.
But as the season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether F1’s future soundscape could keep its biggest star in the cockpit.
