Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula 1, suggests that the engines of F1 cars will be louder with the new regulations set to start in the 2026 season.
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F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed a huge change that will come in 2026 which is sure to please fans.
Domenicali announced that the engines will roar louder in the forthcoming 2026 season. After transitioning to turbo-hybrid V6 engines in 2014, Formula 1 cars significantly reduced their noise levels, a stark contrast to the ear-splitting volumes of the earlier V12 and V10 eras.
Fans have voiced their concerns over this change, suggesting that loud cars are an integral part of the quintessential F1 experience. As we look forward to 2026, a fresh set of regulations is set to take effect, and significant adjustments to the power units form the core of these changes.
The new regulations will usher in an era of increased electrical power usage as the sport seeks to minimise its carbon footprint. Furthermore, sustainable fuels will be gradually introduced. Domenicali, in conversation with Australian radio station 3AW, indicated that though the deafening roars of the V10 and V12 engines will not return, the new regulatory cycle will certainly amplify the car's sound.
Domenicali explained, as quoted by Motorsportweek.com:
“We need to have a different sound.
"It’s music for my ears. It’s true that we had the 12 cylinders, it was a different frequency, very loud. And then 10, eight, six – it’s not [going] again down.
“It’s just the situation is different. Of course, we need to be hybrid, we’re going to be hybrid for the future.
“But the intention is to make sure in the new regulation the engine [noise] itself will be higher because that’s part of our emotion.
“It is really what our fans want to hear and that’s the duty for us to commit to that.”
