F1: Porsche not giving up on F1 project (3rd Update)

(GMM) Formula 1 remains “interesting” to Porsche, the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker’s sports boss Thomas Laudenbach insists.

Prior to sister brand Audi announcing its tie-up with Sauber for the new powertrain rules in 2026 and beyond, Porsche was in detailed talks with Red Bull Racing.

“The fact that the cooperation with Red Bull didn’t work out doesn’t mean Formula 1 isn’t interesting to Porsche anymore,” Laudenbach told f1-insider.com.

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, said as recently as late October that Porsche is “still in discussions with Formula 1 teams”.

Laudenbach insisted: “What is important is that it fits.

“If that’s not the case, it’s better to not do it at all. But in any case, Formula 1 is very attractive now.

“That is why we have just extended our contract for the Porsche Supercup as a one-make series in the context of Formula 1 for eight more years,” he added.

Related Rumor: Porsche to buy 50% of Williams team

(GMM) Formula 1 has left the door open to Porsche, despite a deadline for manufacturers to sign up for the new engine rules in 2026 having now passed.

We reported earlier this month that, following the collapse of the Red Bull-Porsche talks, the VW-owned German carmaker only had days to follow Audi into the sport before the FIA’s October 15 deadline.

Porsche CFO Lutz Meschke said before the deadline expired: “Formula 1 remains an interesting racing series for us.

“We’re looking to see if there are any other viable options,” he told Sport1. But we are not allowing ourselves to be pressured into making a decision that we are not convinced of.”

Indeed, we also clarified before the deadline expired that the FIA may have told Porsche that the deadline may have some flexibility built into it.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has now confirmed that.

“At Spa-Francorchamps in August, Audi announced it was joining the FIA Formula 1 World Championship from 2026 as a power unit manufacturer,” he said in a statement after the World Motor Sport Council meeting this week.

“This announcement was an endorsement of the hard work by all stakeholders to develop those regulations. We also note that Porsche are still in discussions with Formula 1 teams.”

In a note that motor racing’s governing body sent out after a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday regarding the 2026 engine rules, it said: “At Spa-Francorchamps in August, Audi announced it was joining the FIA Formula 1 World Championship from 2026 as a power unit manufacturer.

“This announcement was an endorsement of the hard work by all stakeholders to develop those regulations. We also note that Porsche are still in discussions with Formula 1 teams.”

As we have written on numerous occasions, one obvious candidate for Porsche to team with would be potential new entrant Andretti.

The American Andretti operation has been looking to enter F1 but has faced resistance from 9 of the other 10 teams. The inclusion of an OEM like Porsche would convince the skeptics that it would be beneficial to have Andretti there.

Another option is a Williams/Andretti/Porsche tie-up. Besides the Haas team being owned by an American (Gene Haas) the Williams team is owned by Dorilton Capital, a New York private investment firm.  Andretti Global could buy out Dorilton Capital’s shares for a profit.

Grove-based Williams is currently committed to Mercedes until the end of 2025, but its options are open after that when Porsche would enter in 2026.

(GMM) Porsche insists it has not abandoned its plans to enter Formula 1.

When the 50 percent buyout talks with Red Bull recently collapsed, insiders indicated that the VW-owned German carmaker may instead look to Williams or McLaren.

However, reports subsequently suggested that Porsche had in fact dropped its F1 ambitions altogether for the start of the new engine regulations in 2026.

And with the FIA’s mid-October deadline for 2026 engine entrants now looming large, Porsche CFO Lutz Meschke confirmed: “Formula 1 remains an interesting racing series for us.

“We’re looking to see if there are any other viable options,” he told Sport1.

“But we are not allowing ourselves to be pressured into making a decision that we are not convinced of.”

Indeed, it is believed that the FIA has told Porsche that the looming October 15 entry deadline for 2026 may have some flexibility built into it.

The collapse of the Red Bull-Porsche talks was a disappointment for the sport’s authorities, but the bright side is rumors that Hyundai and Ford may also be looking at potential F1 forays.

“All I can say is that Formula 1 is booming at the moment, so it’s a logical step for every manufacturer to think about getting involved,” said Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko.

“There are some manufacturers, not only German ones, who are also interested in this.”

In the meantime, Red Bull is pressing ahead with its own engine program for 2026 – the fully-independent Red Bull Powertrains.

At present, however, the Red Bull-branded engines in the back of the Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri cars are simply rebranded Honda units.

Official ‘Honda’ logos are back on those cars for the remainder of the 2022 season, and rumors are growing that a full resurrection of the works Red Bull-Honda pairing is in the works for 2026.

“We are the prettiest bride in the paddock,” Marko laughed.

Max Verstappen said at Suzuka: “It’s just great to have the Honda name back on the car.

“Who knows what’s going to happen in the future. I’m probably not the right person to speak to about that, but it’s nice to have the full name back on the car.”