Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis, has unveiled plans for a new motorsport series - known as HybridV10 - to "expand opportunity and accessibility" at the top level of racing.
The series promises two different divisions in a HybridV10 championship and a parallel HybridV8 category. There are plans for 24 teams across the two categories, potentially offering opportunities for 48 race seats; a start date for the championship has been pencilled in for either 2028 or 2029.
Plans for the series also demonstrate a desire to increase the value of fan feedback, along with providing educational and employment opportunities, an entry route for sim racers to move into real-world racing, and prioritising driver talent over funding opportunities.
Although a technical format has yet to be determined other than the outline of the powertrains in each car, the championships promise cost controls and the ability for manufacturers to become involved.
Reading between the lines, its statement that every team will begin with "the same foundation" suggests a centralised chassis with the ability for teams to implement their own advancements, without proceeding into a technology war.
The series promises to develop a central "HybridV10 Campus" containing a "Centre of Excellence" - which contains facilities for all teams, engineering programmes, simulators and driver training tools, plus education pathways and apprenticeships for those looking to start their career in motorsport.
A draft system is part of the proposal, not only to select drivers, but also for team personnel. Like F1, drivers need to accrue enough "Hybrid Super Licence" points to gain access to the draft. The entry barrier has been set at a high level, requiring any drivers to be over 20 and have either finished in the top three in any top-level racing category, hold an F1 superlicence, or have fulfilled an F1 reserve driver role.
However, the in-house superlicence structure also allows drivers to earn points in other ways, either through race results or in simulator/testing performances, education/technical knowledge, fitness, and professionalism.
The series is also looking to implement its own governance system, labelled the Hybrid World Commission, to oversee all elements from the regulations, stewarding, safety standards, and to manage the other add-ons that the series aims to provide.
Furthermore, there is scope for fan interaction using the series' "This Isn’t Right" mechanism: allowing fans to "constructively raise concerns regarding sporting fairness, safety, or procedural integrity during any HybridV10 festival event".
The release from the series also outlines a three-day "festival" event, using Friday to showcase technology, innovation, and education opportunities, Saturday for the HybridV8 series' running, and Sunday for the HybridV10 category.
It has suggested that a 12-round calendar will be implemented around the world, visiting all major continents in a loop to include new or emerging motorsport markets, and build its profile and interest globally.
"This is an early-stage build, being developed deliberately and properly," Hamilton stated. "More detail including how people can be involved from the beginning will be shared throughout January.
"I can build this alone, but I'd rather build it together with the fans and those who want to shape the future of a new motorsport platform."
The series will work throughout 2026 in attempting to build its audience and make progress with prospective team owners, before finalising the overall technical package ahead of a projected testing period in 2027.
HybridV10 has lofty dreams - but are they realistic?
There's a lot to digest here. There had been whisperings of a HybridV10 project over the past few weeks, but the unveiling of the series' core aims demonstrates that it wishes to be a clear competitor to F1 in the future.
Here's the bottom line: the growth in profile of sustainable fuels has led many to suggest that F1 should do away with its electrically influenced powertrains and reinstate a formula that brings more noise and less complexity to the party. The feeling is, if manufacturers are worried about their impact on the global ecosphere, that modern technology can produce synthetic or bio-derived fuels in a more carbon-friendly manner. It's not quite that simple, but the theory is there.
Although this is an avenue that F1 has explored, it has not yet made a decision over the next powertrain route when the now-current turbo-hybrids reach the end of their projected cycle at the end of 2030. As such, HybridV10 has found something to exploit.
And the other aims are noble: greater outlay on education, a driver ladder that puts talent over cash, and a much smaller calendar ticks all of the right boxes, as does the promise that fans will be listened to when it comes to the series' development path.
But forgive our cynicism, because we've all seen vapourware championships before; in more recent times, Dilbagh Gill's FG Series made many promises about creating a new all-electric championship, including an innovative "one-car, two championships" model with accessible cost to less-monied drivers, but that's not been heard from since 2024. In the early 2000s, Premier1 Grand Prix made an initial splash but never got going.
There's a lot to set up here - it's not just about getting 24 interested teams and 48 interested drivers, but there needs to be a car, series infrastructure for all teams, the new governance system, the education layout, logistics for the 12 races, and almost everything else in between.
Oh, and it needs money - and lots of it. Formula E only managed to get going in 2014 after accruing huge debts, and was weeks away from going out of business after the first round. And, with every series that promises an entry-way for drivers with talent, not money, finance is inevitably an issue. It's not just getting the series going, it's keeping it there - there are myriad categories that ran for a few seasons, before diving so far into the red that it was simply impossible to sustain.
If Hamilton can pull this off, armed with ambitious backers and a wealth of manufacturers, then it would be an incredible feat. But that's a mighty big 'if'.
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