F1 has seen renewed manufacturer interest since the modified engine regulations for 2026 were finalized, boosting the amount of electric power and requiring the usage of efuels.
While sibling company Porsche of the Volkswagen Group is still interested in competing in Formula One despite the cancellation of its planned cooperation with Red Bull due to a breakdown in negotiations, Audi confirmed last month that it would start producing engines for the sport starting in 2026.
Honda, which ended its works engagement last year while maintaining technical ties to Red Bull, is also rumored to be making a comeback in 2026.
BMW is the last remaining significant German manufacturer with Mercedes already on the grid, Audi coming, Porsche intrigued, and Volkswagen no longer participating in motorsport.
Being away from F1 was “not an issue for us,” according to Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, because BMW was “certainly not interested at the moment.”
Roos, who took over for outgoing Aston Martin F1 team principal Mike Krack as BMW’s motorsport manager, said: “I think you also have to be realistic.”
“You have made a significant financial commitment in Formula 1; thus, you must continue to be extremely successful for a very long time. The vast array of initiatives we now have in motorsport makes us delighted.”
Between 2000 and 2009, BMW had their most recent manufacturer presence in Formula One, originally partnering with Williams before switching to the Sauber factory team in 2006. The BMW team won one race, the Canadian Grand Prix in 2008, before abruptly leaving Formula One at the end of 2009.
BMW made it plain that its focus is on its new LMDh program, even though it has been mentioned in relation to a prospective F1 comeback given the level of manufacturer interest recently and the change in the engine rules.
After making its IMSA debut this year, the new BMW M Hybrid V8 will move on to the World Endurance Championship starting in 2024. At that time, it will also make a comeback to compete for overall honors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
According to Roos, “We are practically already fully into electrification and the move to electrification.” “Not just in 2026 when Formula 1 moves in this route, LMDh fits there wonderfully. From that perspective, today is the ideal time for us to do LMDh.”
The CEO of BMW M Motorsport GmbH, Frank van Meel, acknowledged the marketing potential and audience of F1 racing but insisted that BMW did not “enter motorsport exclusively for commercial purposes.”
Van Meel stated, “We want to create something for the series and grow together.”
“Because of this, LMDh is unquestionably more significant to us than Formula 1. The topic of electrification is too far away from our series M products, but it is also too far away in time.”
In This Article...
Despite the recent manufacturer entries, BMW says it is currently not interested in joining Formula 1 and is instead concentrating on its LMDh program.
The only big German manufacturer left is BMW, as Mercedes is already on the grid, Audi is coming, Porsche is intrigued, and the Volkswagen in-house brand is no longer participating in motorsport.
The new BMW LMDh car will make its IMSA debut the following year and then move on to the World Endurance Championship starting in 2024, when it will also make a comeback to compete for overall honors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
BMW M Boss said, “We have no ambitions for Formula 1.”
Numerous automakers will join the fray as the Formula 1 racing championship gains in popularity. In 2026, Audi and Porsche will make their Formula 1 debuts, but BMW has largely remained silent. Frank Van Meel, the head of BMW M, stated in an interview today that the Munich-based automaker has no plans to compete in Formula 1.
Van Meel was certain, saying, “We have no ambitions for Formula 1.” The forthcoming LMDh project is where the business continues to concentrate its motorsport efforts. “It’s crucial for us that the [electrification] narrative of transformation is accepted as soon as feasible. The regulations pertaining to electrification are still being discussed in Formula 1. Thus, everything was crystal plain to us. Let’s move more quickly into that section on electricity “says Van Meel.
Now that Audi has joined the sport, should BMW think about entering F1?
Audi recently made the official announcement that it will compete in Formula 1 for the first time, which is a significant development for Audi, the Volkswagen Group, and the sport overall. It’s tremendously exciting for me as an F1 fan to see Audi join the league. As a fan of automobiles, I think it’s fantastic that more brands participate in motorsport since it advances their technological capabilities and advances the industry. What about BMW supporters, though? Are they upset that a competitor is returning to a sport that many of them had hoped BMW would rejoin? And now that two of BMW’s key competitors are present, should it rejoin?
The largest competitor to BMW is Mercedes, which has been extremely successful in Formula One for many years. Mercedes has a bit more motorsports renown and legitimacy than BMW thanks to its world championship wins, which must irritate the M Division. Audi, BMW’s primary German rival, has recently joined F1 and will also contend for a title. In 2026, even Porsche will take part in the sport. So, does BMW decide to make a comeback or does it continue to be the lame German duck out of the race? It’s also important to note that Markus Duesmann, the current CEO of Audi, is a BMW alum.
Starting in 2026, Audi will compete in Formula One alongside Sauber, BMW’s former F1 partner, and will provide the vehicle’s engines. Audi will need to put in a lot of work if they want to be even remotely as successful as the current Alfa Romeo Sauber team (Alfa will depart in 2026). Although current drivers Valterri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are both capable drivers (Guanyu is a very promising young driver), their vehicles simply cannot compete with those made by Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes. Perhaps the engineers and engines from Audi can change that. However, new drivers are also anticipated to exist in 2026.
Audi sought a partner when it made its joining announcement. Instead of forming a brand-new team, it preferred to collaborate with an existing one. If BMW were interested in another F1 entry, it would probably take the same action. It might try to court a few teams, like Williams, Haas F1, or even bigger fish like McLaren.
Even though it is quite doubtful, it would be awesome to see BMW return to Formula One. BMW is still very active in motorsport, but not in anything as well-known or well-known as Formula 1. As it switches to electric vehicles, Audi decided to enter F1 because it will give its cars legitimate motorsport credentials. Fans would like it if BMW did the same. Will that occur? Nothing has come to our attention that would indicate BMW is even considering it. But imagining it is enjoyable.
Has BMW entered Formula One?
This article discusses BMW’s participation in Formula One and the BMW Sauber racing team. See Sauber Motorsport for the independent racing team.
Since the World Drivers’ Championship was established in 1950, BMW has been involved in Formula One in a variety of capacities. Before developing the BMW M12/13 inline-four turbocharged engine in the 1980s, the business competed in sporadic races in the 1950s and 1960s (typically under Formula Two rules). The team’s chassis were powered by BMW engines from 1982 to 1987 as a consequence of an agreement between BMW and Brabham. Nelson Piquet won the 1983 title while operating a Brabham BT52-BMW during this time. ATS, Arrows, Benetton, and Ligier teams were also given the M12/13 by BMW during this time, with varying degrees of success. Brabham briefly left the sport in 1988, and BMW stopped officially supporting the engines, which were still being used by the Arrows team under the Megatron moniker. The 1989 revision of the Formula One Technical Regulations outlawed turbocharged engines, making the M12/13 obsolete.
In the late 1990s, BMW made the decision to return to Formula One and entered into an exclusive agreement with the Williams team, which was in need of a new long-term engine supplier following the departure of Renault in 1997. A new V10 engine was developed as a result of the initiative and debuted in competition in the Williams FW22 in 2000. The collaboration advanced from the midfield to contending for race victories the next year, but the desired title remained elusive due to Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s domination in the first half of the 2000s. BMW decided to sever ways with Williams in 2005 as their relationship had deteriorated, and instead decided to purchase the rival Sauber team outright.
The BMW Sauber project, which ran from 2006 to 2009, significantly raised the Swiss former privateer team’s competitiveness. A strong third place performance in the Constructors’ Championship in 2007 followed two podium places in the inaugural season (which became second when McLaren was disqualified). Robert Kubica won the team’s lone race in 2008, the Canadian Grand Prix, and briefly held the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, but the team decided to concentrate on 2009 car development and fell back in the standings at the end of the season. Due to the F1.09 chassis’ lack of competitiveness, the 2009 season was a significant letdown. BMW decided to leave the sport, returning the team to its founder, Peter Sauber, in addition to the global financial downturn and the company’s displeasure with the constraints of the current technical standards in developing technology relevant to road cars.
Will BMW return to the F1?
Herbert Diess, the CEO of the Volkswagen group of enterprises, recently announced that Porsche and Audi would join the German company in Formula 1. This won’t happen until 2026, when new F1 regulations, such as the adoption of totally synthetic fuels, take effect. Many people are now focusing on BMW and wondering if they will also return to F1.
Given that Mercedes is anticipated to continue participating, albeit most likely as an engine supplier, the entry of Audi and Porsche into Formula 1 might have undoubtedly inspired other manufacturers. BMW certainly has to join the party a little more in order for the galaxy of German luxury automakers to be complete.
Munich’s comeback to Formula 1 by 2026 was a question posed by Germany’s BMW Blog. It appears that the topic has not even been broached at BMW. Frank Van Meel, the head of BMW M, has stated that there is “no aspiration for Formula 1.” BMW never gave the idea of returning to Formula One after leaving the sport in 2009 following its separation from Sauber due to then-current engine regulation revisions.
It’s unfortunate because Porsche and Red Bull are very guaranteed to collaborate on an engine supply deal, and Audi has a good chance of acquiring McLaren or Sauber.
“We place a lot of importance on the early adoption of the energy transition. The rules for electrification are still being discussed in Formula 1. Thus, everything was crystal plain to us. We need to surpass Formula 1 in speed “Frank Van Meel stated.
Instead, BMW is pouring a lot of money on its Le Mans Daytona (LMDh) hybrid race car, which is now only slated to compete in 2024 after 2023 is officially ruled out. Even if it doesn’t return to F1, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi are all working on LMDh projects, so BMW will still have to compete with the Volkswagen Group.
Acura, Cadillac, Alpine, and Peugeot will also be present. BMW participates in both GT3 and GT4 in addition to its LMDh program.