F1 chapter not quite closed for Porsche: 'Remains interesting'
David Michalczuk
General
- GPblog.com
The Volkswagen Group wanted to do it big: enter Formula 1 from 2026 with both Audi and Porsche. That won't happen, as Porsche decided to pull the plug on the project after all. It did so after a deal with Red Bull Racing collapsed. Nevertheless, the door to the top class of motorsport is still ajar.
Porsche went all-in on a partnership with Red Bull Racing. Talks were at an advanced stage but eventually ended. The Germans wanted to buy 50 per cent from Red Bull, but the Milton Keynes-based team wanted to remain in charge and not sell shares (and thus control).
F1 is not completely ruled out in future
Michael Dreiser, 'director of motorsport sales' at Porsche Motorsport, now reveals in an interview with BlackBook Motorsport that they do continue to follow Formula 1 with interest.
Asked whether there is a future in Formula 1 for Porsche, the top executive replied: "Motorsport will always be at the core of our brand identity. Formula One remains an interesting racing series for us. For the next few years, we are concentrating on the current factory programmes with the Porsche 963 in WEC and the IMSA series, as well as in Formula E with the Porsche 99X Electric."
The objective in those aforementioned motorsport classes is clear for the Germans: "There, we want to fight for overall victories. That is our tradition and our main focus, and we do not comment on speculation beyond that."
An F1 entry by Porsche in the coming years is not obvious, as the priorities are thus currently with the WEC, IMSA and Formula E. But: never say never.