Is BMW coming to F1?
BMW has no interest in a return to Formula 1, Australia’s Drive has reported, quoting division CEO Frank van Meel. We try to be closer to our series products with everything we do,” the executive said, calling attention to the M4’s involvement in sports car racing. BMW last fielded a Grand Prix car in 2009. The official word. BMW M boss Frank van Meel explained to Hagerty in 2025 that the company isn’t interested in a return to F1. We’re not ignoring [Formula 1]; we’re just not participating,” he said.
Why did BMW quit F1?
Why did BMW quit Formula 1? In summary: A lack of on track success in 2009, combined with corporate cost-cutting amidst the GFC. BMW Sauber were “runners up” in the 2007 constructors championship (McLaren were excluded due to “Spygate”). The following season, the team finished a credible 3rd overall. Combined with the global financial recession and the company’s frustration about the limitations of the contemporary technical regulations in developing technology relevant to road cars, BMW chose to withdraw from the sport, selling the team back to its founder, Peter Sauber.
Is BMW joining the F1 in 2026?
With two new brands, Audi and Cadillac, joining the Formula One grid in 2026, BMW has told Australian media it has no plans to return to the top-level racing series. However, Porsche – which is owned by the Volkswagen Group – does not currently have the internal infrastructure required to develop a Formula One car and thus would have to join forces with a development partner.Audi has announced its new Formula One team name and logo ahead of its entry to the sport in 2026, rebranding from Sauber. In 2022, Audi confirmed it would enter F1 for the first time from 2026, developing its own engine and acquiring one of the existing teams. It struck a deal to purchase Sauber in October 2022.In short, Porsche doesn’t have an F1 team because it was unable to find a partner team for entry into the 2026 season. Given that Formula One is such an expensive sport that requires a lot of development, it would be challenging for Porsche to re-enter the fray without an established partner of some kind.
Why doesn’t Lamborghini race F1?
Instead of F1, Lamborghini focuses on GT racing and endurance racing, which directly promotes their road cars and customer racing programs like GT3 and Super Trofeo. There’s also another major factor… cost and relevance. Lamborghini isn’t in F1 because it doesn’t fit their business strategy or VW Group’s brand “lane assignments. The cost/complexity of modern hybrid F1 power units is massive, road-relevance is limited for a V12 hybrid supercar maker, and the Group already designated other brands (Audi/Porsche) for F1.In August, Lamborghini announced its decision to pause the program for 2026 due to a strategic realignment of its motorsport activities, choosing to focus its Squadra Corse team efforts on the upcoming Lamborghini Temerario GT3 instead. So that all looks a very long way from any putative F1 involvement.