Eddie Jordan thinks F1 has become ‘too cowardly’ by making one key regulation change

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Eddie Jordan thinks Formula 1 has become ‘too cowardly’ when it comes to making a key change to the technical regulations.

F1 will adopt a new set of regulations for the 2026 season which features a redesigned power unit that has increased battery power and the use of 100 per cent sustainable fuels.

Active aerodynamics will also see drivers have the use of moveable front and rear wings, all in a bid to create closer racing on track. F1 teams will be able to start work on their cars from January next year, although Andretti has already started work on their car as they are not bound to the rules.

F1 has a history of making important regulation changes over the years, the most significant of which was in the 2022 season which saw the return of ground effects.

Discussing what he would like to see changed in the future on the Formula for Success podcast, Jordan wants to see the championship backtrack on a decision that was made nearly 10 years ago.

Eddie Jordan wants to see a return of V10 engines

One of the main things people associate Formula 1 with over the years is the iconic sounds from the V10 and V8 engines.

F1 made a significant change to the regulations during the 2014 season when it adopted hybrid power units, which effectively muted the sound of the cars compared to the ear-splitting noise that used to be made by the previous engines.

The move to hybrid engines was done to keep F1’s road relevance credentials and help attract big brands such as Audi, however, Jordan feels they should be thinking more about the show aspect and what spectators get in the grandstands.

“When you were at a race, let’s say you were at Silverstone. Even if you were not at the grid and you were outside and on the grandstand, and the race started, I can promise you, the ground shuddered,” said Jordan.

“It moved underneath you such was the element of the power transmitted, the noise, to the surface, it just went through your body. It was sex on wheels and that’s what motor racing was for me. We’re too cowardly, there is too much going on with the regulations. Will we ever get back to the V10s? Probably not.”

F1 switch to sustainable fuels opens the door to return of V10 titans

It looks unlikely that F1 will make the switch to V10 engines in the immediate future, owing to the sustainability targets FIA championships must achieve by 2030 as part of the governing bodies role in the Paris Agreement.

The switch to fully sustainable fuels in 2026 could see a return of V10 engines in the future. The specification of fuel that will be used is known as ‘drop-in fuel’ which means it can be used in almost any internal combustion engine vehicle.

READ MORE: Everything we know about F1’s 2026 new regulations

The fuel itself is carbon neutral and will meet the latest European standards for greenhouse gas savings, and is tipped to reduce the emissions of 1.2 billion cars on the public roads by 2030.

In the case of F1, it could mean a return to either the V8 or V10 engines coupled with a hybrid system in the future in a bid to bring back the iconic soundtrack once associated with the championship.