Bmw Back To F1
BMW returned to the top category of endurance racing in 2024 after a long hiatus. The company is also active in several other series, ranging from the German Touring Car Championship to the Superbike World Championship, but it's been totally absent from Formula 1 for nearly two decades. BMW M boss Frank van Meel explained why he's not interested in chasing arch rival Mercedes.
The poor performance of the F1.09 chassis contributed to BMW's withdrawal from Formula One at the end of the season. Although BMW Sauber targeted the 2009 season as the year they would challenge for the title, their start to the season was a disappointment. BMW will not come back to F1 in 2026 Speaking to Motorsport-Total, BMW motorsport boss Andreas Roos citied cost reasons and the LMD-H projects as the major reasons why it would not be tempted back.
"You have a very high investment in Formula 1, and until that comes back, you have to be very successful for a long time," Roos explained. JUNE 1, 2025 BMW not interested in F1 return BMW is not interested in joining fellow German carmakers Mercedes and Audi on the Formula 1 grid. BMW M CEO Frank van Meel explains why Formula 1 isn't on the agenda and why WEC offers more real.
BMW pulled out of Formula 1 at the end of 2009, having owned and collaborated with the Sauber team - which is now owned by Audi ahead of that German marque's 2026 F1 entry. Further explaining BMW's ongoing F1 snub, van Meel added: "The (WEC) cars are closer to series. The Road Ahead: Assessing the Prospects of a BMW F1 Return As whispers of BMW's potential return to Formula 1 echo throughout the motorsport world, speculation runs rampant.
With rivals Audi and Ford poised to join the fray in 2026, the allure of F1's hybrid powertrains and global platform beckons. Former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen is racing for BMW in 2025. But when asked about a potential return to Formula 1, BMW motorsport chief Frank van Meel was clear.
"We're not ignoring (F1). BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos says the German brand is not considering a return to Formula 1 at the moment. inside.
BMW has committed to returning to endurance racing, but it won't be headed back to Formula 1. That's despite its big rival at Mercedes-Benz cementing itself as a fixture on the grid, and Audi gearing up to join in 2026 alongside automotive giants such as Ford and Honda. Rather than Formula 1, BMW has set its sights on World Endurance Championship (WEC) and International Motor Sports.