According to RacingNews365.com, Ferrari were banned from a recent meeting which involved 2026 engine suppliers, with the Italians still yet to sign up to the new engine regulations.
Time is seemingly ticking for Ferrari to sign up to 2026, and for Formula 1 to get the famous side to remain in the sport, with the Italians being the most popular and historic engine supplier on the grid by far.
The deadline for a supplier to confirm their 2026 entry was originally October 15; however, this was then moved to the end of November due to little interest.
Following the recent deadline, though, five engine suppliers have confirmed that they’ll be a supplier in 2026, with those five being: Audi Formula Racing, Alpine SAS, Honda Racing Corporation, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) and Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT).
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Ferrari’s current exclusion from 2026 is reportedly due to the fact that RBPT will likely be treated as a new supplier, something which will see Red Bull granted several concessions, designed to allow a new engine supplier to catch-up to current suppliers.
The Scuderia aren’t happy about this, with RBPT having worked with Honda and therefore having had access to the Japanese manufacturer’s Intellectual Property.
Interestingly, these rights were given back to Honda by RBPT with them being unused, with Honda and Red Bull set to go their own ways after 2025, with both wanting to supply engines.
Whilst Ferrari gave RacingNews365.com “no answer” for why they were excluded from the meeting, which took place on December 15, it is widely believed that they were denied entry due to being yet to sign up for 2026.
Whilst Ferrari are less than happy with the potential advantage Red Bull might receive, the Austrians team principal Christian Horner is very pleased to see Formula 1 being “so healthy” in regard to engine suppliers.
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Formula 1 currently has four active engine suppliers, a number that will become six in 2026 should Ferrari sign up, with a number of manufacturers liking the look of the sport’s new engine regulations for three years’ time.
“It is great, it’s so healthy for Formula 1 to have that diversity,” Horner told RacingNews365.com.
“It is phenomenal to have so much interest and it just shows the strength of the sport that it is attracting that kind of investment and commitment to a combustion engine. It is great news.”