by BMW motorsport chief Andreas Roos has confirmed they will not seek to re-enter Formula 1 in 2026, given its slowness to move towards a more sustainable path.
The next generation of powertrains will switch to fully sustainable fuel and focus more on ERS [energy recovery system] to generate energy, as part of the sport’s goal of becoming completely carbon neutral by 2030.
These new engines will still be able to deliver the 1000bhp produced by the current power units and this move, coupled with the growing popularity of Formula 1, has already attracted both Audi and Ford to join the sport via Sauber and Red Bull respectively, alongside Honda which is on the signup list as a power unit supplier, although they do not currently have a customer team.
But BMW, which was involved in Formula 1 as an engine supplier to Williams in the early 2000s before joining Sauber to have its own team until 2009, has not been affected by the return to the grid.
Per Roos, head of BMW’s M Motorsport division, explained that the technology Formula 1 is looking to implement is already on display for BMW in its endurance racing efforts around the world.
With that, they feel the company is in the right place with their motorsport portfolio and they don’t need to re-enter Formula 1.
“If we’re being honest, Formula 1 goes hybrid in 2026, at the moment they already are, but with a hybrid system that doesn’t have any relevance,” Roos told Speedcafe.com.
“And so in 2026 they switch to a hybrid system that you already see in cars. But this happens in 2026.
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“We already do the IMSA championship and the WEC next year with a hybrid system, which has road relevance. So this is already for us, basically three years earlier.
“And that’s why at the moment it suits us perfectly, as I said, our road cars.
“So that’s why, for us Formula 1 to be honest, change is too late to go in this direction.
“It’s a similar story with sustainable fuel, which is already being used in motor racing but will only be introduced in F1 for 2026.
“It’s not a topic for us at all. There’s really nothing at the moment where we really look at Formula 1.”
BMW scored one win when partnering Sauber as a works team, via Robert Kubica’s victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.
