The Chinese car manufacturer BYD is reportedly considering entering Formula 1 not by creating a team from scratch, but by buying an existing structure such as Aston Martin or Alpine.
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According to several reports, Aston Martin F1 could be one of the potential targets. The Shanghai circuit paddock is expected to be the setting for an initial approach this weekend during the Chinese Grand Prix.
The discipline has just moved to 11 teams with the arrival of Cadillac F1, but the FIA has always considered 12 teams as the ideal number on the starting grid.
A recent precedent exists: Audi chose to join Formula 1 by buying Sauber rather than creating its own structure, before introducing its own engine. BYD is currently studying these two strategies.
Aston Martin in turmoil
According to an article by Auto Motor und Sport, the team owner, Lawrence Stroll, could lose patience in the face of the difficulties encountered by the Aston Martin project.
The Canadian billionaire has reportedly already invested six times more than planned in the team to make it a title contender. However, with the new technical rules of 2026, the British team finds itself at the bottom of the hierarchy, only ahead of newcomer Cadillac, largely due to problems with the engine supplied by Honda.
In this context, Stroll could reach his breaking point, which would make Aston Martin a credible target for a takeover by BYD. The team was valued at around 3 billion dollars last year, which would make it one of the most expensive acquisitions in the paddock.
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A Chinese partner is already among Aston Martin’s shareholders, namely the Geely automotive consortium, which could constitute a kind of Trojan horse, as everyone knows that in China the Communist Party has its say in the strategies of industrial groups.
Alpine also mentioned
Another option could be Alpine F1 Team, as Geely is also in commercial relations with Renault Group. Rumors have persisted for several months about a possible partial or total sale of the team. The French manufacturer owns 76% of the team and claims it does not want to sell. But the investment fund Otro Capital, which holds 24%, is currently in discussions with several investors.
Among the names mentioned are the boss of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, as well as the former team principal of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner. With a Mercedes engine considered as one of the best on the grid, Alpine could represent an attractive entry point for a new player like BYD.
A new industrial battle in F1
If BYD really decided to join Formula 1, it would further strengthen the presence of major car manufacturers in the discipline, already marked by the recent arrival of Audi and Cadillac, namely the Volkswagen and General Motors groups, while Toyota has moved closer to Haas.
But for now, no official decision has been made by BYD. The Chinese manufacturer continues to examine its options as F1 attracts more and more international investment.
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