Max Verstappen’s proposed engine rule change could ‘kill’ six F1 races including Monaco

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An engine rule change proposed by Max Verstappen could reportedly ‘kill’ as many as six Formula 1 races.

In 2026, Verstappen has been vocal about F1’s new regulations, labelling them as ‘anti-driving’ and also compared the new era to ‘Mario Kart’.

The Dutchman has clearly not enjoyed himself, and it was reported in March that Verstappen is ‘seriously’ thinking about retiring from F1 at the end of 2026.

Amid the uncertainty over his future, Verstappen revealed the one rule change he would make to the new version of F1.

As reported by Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf, Verstappen said: “I would choose to have the V10 or V8 engines come back.”

Have you changed your mind about what Max Verstappen can achieve this season?

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Return of V8 engines could ‘kill’ as many as six Formula 1 races

Following Verstappen’s comment, both F1 boss Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem have both hinted at the return of V8 engines.

However, it has now been claimed that if V8 engines return to F1, as many as four races could be under threat.

In his latest Q&A, BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson claimed that multiple races on the current calendar could be impacted due to noise pollution.

Benson stated that the return of ‘screaming naturally aspirated engines’ would ‘likely kill’ the Miami Grand Prix, as well as Las Vegas.

In addition, it has been suggested that Melbourne and the newly-added Madrid race could also be ‘under threat’.

Benson has recently added on BBC that, aside from Miami, Las Vegas, Melbourne and Madrid, races in Singapore and Monaco could also be at risk if the V8 engines make a return to F1.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirms V8s/V10s will return!

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READ MORE: Fred Vasseur still thinks Ferrari can win 2026 title after seeing what Max Verstappen did last year

Toto Wolff ‘open’ to having new engine regulations in Formula 1

When quizzed on the topic, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said he would be ‘open’ to having new power unit regulations.

The Austrian also claimed that a V8 is a ‘pure Mercedes engine’.

Wolff said: “We are open to new engine regulations. We love V8s. It has only great memories from our perspective. It’s a pure Mercedes engine. It revs high.

“We recognise the financial realities of [original equipment manufacturers] these days. We don’t have it easy. But if it’s well planned and executed, we will see how Mercedes will come back with a real racing engine.”