The Chinese manufacturer BYD is reportedly considering joining Formula 1 or endurance racing. An arrival that would further strengthen the championship’s appeal at a time when Cadillac is starting its first season.
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Formula 1 could soon welcome a new automotive giant. According to several reports relayed by Bloomberg, the Chinese manufacturer BYD is actively studying various possibilities for entering international motor racing.
The company, which has become one of the world leaders in electric vehicles, is currently analyzing several scenarios. Among the paths considered is an entry into Formula 1, but also participation in the World Endurance Championship.
This reflection comes in a context of transformation in motorsport, marked by the growing importance of hybrid powertrains. For a manufacturer like BYD, whose international growth is accelerating rapidly, competition could represent a particularly attractive technological and marketing showcase.
For now, the company remains very discreet on the subject. No spokesperson for BYD Auto Company Limited has officially commented on these speculations, leaving doubt about the reality and scale of the project.
Formula 1 is attracting more and more manufacturers
The timing of these rumors is no coincidence. Formula 1 is preparing to enter a new regulatory era in 2026, with deeply revised engines more oriented towards hybridization and sustainable fuels, and the Chinese Grand Prix is taking place this weekend in Shanghai.
These new rules have already convinced several major manufacturers to join the discipline. Audi will thus make its official entry as a factory team, while Cadillac is now participating in the championship after joining the grid recently.
Audi’s Formula 1 boss, Jonathan Wheatley, recently pointed out that these new regulations had been decisive in attracting new industrial players to the discipline.
In this context, the presence of a Chinese manufacturer would be seen as a logical step in the global expansion of the championship.
The dream of a Chinese manufacturer in F1
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has never hidden his ambition to see a major Chinese manufacturer join Formula 1.
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“For two years, my dream has been for major nations to be represented in Formula 1, he explains. The United States will be present with General Motors. The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer. We already have a driver.”
This last remark refers to Guanyu Zhou, currently a reserve driver at Cadillac, who remains the most visible figure of China in the discipline.
If BYD decided to take the plunge, two main strategies would be possible. The manufacturer could create a new team from scratch or try to buy an existing team on the current grid.
In both cases, the operation would represent a colossal investment. To join Formula 1 this season, Cadillac notably had to pay compensation of around 450 million dollars to the teams already present to offset the dilution of revenues.
The latest version of the Concorde Agreements, which govern the economic functioning of Formula 1 until 2030, however, leaves the door open for a twelfth team.
Global expansion through sport
The BYD group is currently experiencing spectacular expansion. The company recently overtook Tesla to become the world’s leading supplier of electric vehicles, while accelerating its presence in Europe, Latin America, and several strategic markets.
Yet, Chinese manufacturers still remain relatively discreet in international motorsport. Some groups have nevertheless tried the adventure in recent years. Geely has, for example, entered international touring car competitions, while Nio made history by winning the first Formula E drivers’ title in 2015.
In this context, the potential arrival of BYD in Formula 1 would represent a major turning point, confirming the growing attractiveness of the championship for the biggest players in the global automotive industry.
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