Created outside the structure of Formula 1, HybridV10 is born as a direct response to criticism of the modern era: less artificial management, more driver, more noise, and more identity.
Formula 1 in 2026 will definitively close the door to a return to V8 or V10 engines. The new generation of cars, with hybrid units even more dependent on electrification, marks an irreversible path within the category. However, outside of it, an idea begins to take shape and draws attention due to the symbolism of the name behind the project.
Created by Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, HybridV10 is a proposal for a global single-seater championship that seeks to rescue elements considered “lost” in modern motorsport: sound, aggressiveness, race reading, and driver protagonism.
The project had been developed discreetly over the past year and was presented publicly with a simple and direct message: “real racing, real talent, real skill, and real sound”.
Not a base, nor a competitor to F1
A central point of HybridV10 is its positioning. The series does not intend to be an access category, nor a direct rival to Formula 1. The idea is to coexist with other high-level championships, offering a professional alternative for drivers seeking competition in single-seaters outside the current logic of F1.
This is a category designed for salaried drivers, without dependence on “pay drivers”, and with its own entry criteria, including a specific license — the so-called Hybrid Super Licence, granted by an independent body linked to the series itself.
Two championships, one philosophy
Technically, HybridV10 will be structured into two levels. The main category will use naturally aspirated V10 engines with simplified hybridization, while a support division will feature hybrid V8 engines. Both will operate with standardized cars to maintain cost control and technical balance.
Each championship will have 24 cars, with one entry per team in each division. The proposal is reminiscent of Formula 2 and Formula 3 in standardization, but with a different discourse: less complexity to allow individual talent to appear more clearly.
Anthony Hamilton summarizes the philosophy directly:
“My intention is to remove complexity and refocus on the driver. This means no artificial performance management, just real racing. In the end, I want authentic competition based on the driver’s talent.”
Hybrid, but without an obsession with management
Despite the nostalgic appeal of V8 and V10, HybridV10 does not ignore the current reality of motorsport. The hybrid concept is a central part of the project, but with simpler solutions than those seen today in F1.
Among the ideas under study are less intrusive energy recovery systems and even quick recharging stops, which would introduce strategic variation without turning the driver into a permanent battery manager at the wheel.
Drivers, draft, and an alternative path
Another differential lies in the model of driver selection. The series plans to create a kind of Motorsport Draft League, gathering talents from different categories and disciplines. The goal is to prevent qualified drivers from being left out of the grid solely due to lack of budget or political connection.
In addition, HybridV10 wants to invest in a program called Sim-to-Seat, connecting the virtual world to the real one and opening space for talents who today cannot sustain a traditional career in motorsport. The project encourages these young drivers to maintain their academic training in parallel.
Calendar, circuits, and next steps
The championship projects a calendar of 12 stages per year, without conflict with major categories like F1 or IndyCar. The intention is to race on FIA Grade 1 circuits that are currently outside of F1, such as Sepang, Mugello, and Kyalami.
The logistics would follow a concept called Eco Loop, with continuous displacement around the globe to reduce costs and environmental impact: Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa, Americas, and Australia.
Still in the structuring phase, the plan foresees technical definition throughout 2026, testing in 2027, and, if everything advances as expected, a debut between 2028 and 2029.
More than a championship, HybridV10 is a provocation. It does not attempt to replace Formula 1, but questions its paths. At a time when the top category becomes increasingly technical, silent, and strategic, Anthony Hamilton’s initiative bets on the opposite: emotion, identity, and the driver at the center of the equation.
“I could have kept this a secret for two more years,” Hamilton admitted. “But what matters most is knowing if the fans really want this. If they buy into the idea from the start, then we’ll build it together.”
In the end, perhaps this is the greatest difference between HybridV10 and the current world of F1: before thinking about the regulations, it starts by listening to the public.
