Formula 1

Porsche Ends F1 Dreams

Published

2 months ago

22/03/2023

Porsche’s dreams of joining the Formula 1 grid in 2026 have been dashed, despite continued interest in the championship. The Volkswagen-owned company had initially planned to enter F1 with Audi, but discussions with Red Bull and McLaren failed due to Porsche’s demand for a significant ownership stake.

Despite its continued interest in the championship, Porsche has reportedly concluded its formal evaluation of a Formula 1 program and will not be joining the grid in 2026. The Volkswagen Group-owned company had initially planned to enter F1 in conjunction with Audi, as both brands had intended to participate in the new engine regulations.

Although Audi opted to develop its own F1 engine and secured a partnership with Sauber, Porsche’s discussions with Red Bull and McLaren failed due to its demand for a substantial or controlling ownership stake. Since then, the likelihood of Porsche joining the grid in 2026 has remained uncertain, and sources suggest that Porsche has shifted its attention back to its existing motorsport programs.

Porsche’s current focus lies on its participation in Formula E as a works team and its high-profile comeback to the top category at the Le Mans 24 Hours with the 963 Hypercar project. Although Porsche remains interested in Formula 1, the company has no plans to enter or partner with an F1 team in the foreseeable future.

The conclusion of Porsche’s formal evaluation of an F1 entry means that the sport has missed its best chance to bring Porsche back since its unsuccessful partnership with Footwork in 1991. While it is possible that Porsche may resume its search for an F1 partner team in the future, the timing may not be as favorable as it appeared for the 2026 season.

The 2026 season will see new car regulations and an updated engine, without the complex MGU-H, which may provide new entrants with a better opportunity to compete with established teams and engine suppliers. When the Volkswagen Group initially explored the possibility of entering F1, the then-CEO Herbert Diess highlighted that these factors made it a crucial opportunity, as it was likely the last chance for at least a decade to join the grid.

According to Diess, it is not possible to quickly catch up with established teams in F1, and it may take five to ten years to become competitive. Therefore, it is crucial to enter the sport during a major rule change to have a better chance of success.

Diess emphasized that this window of opportunity only arises during a major rule change, so if a decision is not made now to enter F1, it may not be possible to do so for another decade. One of Porsche’s most high-profile efforts to join the grid involved discussions with Red Bull, which included a plan for Porsche to acquire a 50% stake in the company responsible for designing and building Red Bull Racing’s cars. Additionally, the plan involved Porsche securing its own engine supply, as Red Bull had established a Powertrains division to develop its own F1 engine for the first time.

After the Red Bull talks failed last summer, Porsche stated that it was still considering options to enter F1, but only through acquiring a stake in an existing team. This is because Porsche does not have the necessary infrastructure to undertake an independent engine project. As a result, Porsche did not register its interest in the new engine rules for 2026, unlike other manufacturers, as it would not have constituted a binding entry.

If Porsche were to pursue an engine deal after the Red Bull negotiations failed, it would likely involve using the engine that Audi plans to design and build, potentially under the Porsche name. It is uncertain how many teams were approached by Porsche regarding a potential partnership, but McLaren did have direct conversations with both Porsche and Audi. However, McLaren was unwilling to cede control or naming rights, which ultimately led to discussions with Porsche and Audi not progressing further.

Porsche was not interested in starting a new team from scratch, even though the FIA opened a process for up to two new teams to join the grid from 2025, due to the cost and infrastructure required. However, Volkswagen has achieved half of its goal, as Audi will have a complete works entry in F1 starting in 2026.

Volkswagen Group already owns a 25% stake in Sauber as of January 2023, and it is expected that the company’s ownership will gradually increase to 75%. Sauber currently operates as Alfa Romeo in F1 due to a sponsorship agreement with the Italian automaker, and the team is powered by Ferrari engines until the end of 2025. The acquisition of a majority stake in Sauber by Volkswagen Group is a gradual process, as the team will continue to run under the Alfa Romeo name until the end of the current engine agreement.

Porsche Ends F1 Dreams Porsche Ends F1 Dreams Porsche Ends F1 Dreams