Formula 1 has been transformed in recent decades with technological advances that have increased the efficiency and safety of single-seaters. However, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso makes no secret of his nostalgia for the V10 and V8 engines that brought Formula 1 to its golden age. At the press conference prior to the Chinese Grand Prix, the driver expressed his desire to return to the days when the roar of the engine was undoubtedly part of the Formula 1 spectacle.
Nostalgia for the V10 and V8
The Aston Martin driver recalled his early years in Formula 1 when V10 and V8 engines were the norm and provided the famous roar of his cars. “Obviously I love the days of the V10s and V8s and the sound those cars made. I miss it,” said Alonso.
However, he also understands that the world of racing has evolved into a hybrid world that has an impact on efficiency and respect for the environment. “We live in a different world. Technology has evolved and we have an incredible and efficient engine that consumes only a third of the gasoline it used to consume,” the driver continued.
The choice of whether to continue with current technology or return to the engines of the past lies with the FOM and the FIA, who must take into account factors that may be different from those of improving the spectacle.
Despite the nostalgia he feels for those engines, Alonso makes it clear that drivers should focus on the performance aspect. “As drivers, we want to drive the fastest car possible, no matter what engine we have behind us. Maybe the fans have something to add or say about it, but we can’t go against the times,” the Spaniard continued.
Is the return of V10 engines possible?
In recent weeks, the FIA has left the door open to a possible return of V10 engines with sustainable fuel, something that excites fans. However, Alonso is skeptical about the feasibility of making that change. “I’m not sure, it’s hard to say. I love that era, but we live in a different world,” he said.
Alonso, who began his Formula 1 career with V10 engines and won his two championships in the last years of this technology, assumes that the different developments of the present have produced great benefits. “Today’s power units have an incredible amount of work behind them and, in today’s more sustainable world, efficiency and fuel economy have become much more important,” said the Spaniard.
The Spaniard also pointed out that it is very important to him that any changes to the engine can be carried out, as it affects the show, the cost structures and the work groups. In his opinion, Formula 1 is in a good moment and radically changing the regulations could affect the future of the sport. Does this mean that the Spaniard has some kind of information about the performance of the 2026 Honda engine? Pure speculation for the moment.
Fernando Alonso and safety
Beyond nostalgia, Alonso assumed that technical evolution has made Formula 1 safer, something he considers a priority. “In this hybrid era, we cannot forget how efficient and safe cars are now compared to the past,” he said, explaining, in relation to this comparison, that F1 has always put safety before spectacle, as the halo itself demonstrates. “It’s like thinking we could race without the halo to give fans more adrenaline… it doesn’t make sense, because we’re still moving forward,” said Alonso.
For the Aston Martin driver, the F1 we have today is very good and the balance between performance, safety and sustainability is the key to the future of motorsport. ”What we have today is a good F1 and it’s a good time for the sport. Renewing something can turn into a new field,” emphasized Alonso, who made it clear that although he likes V10 engines, the present of motorsport is the ideal path to follow.