Rumor: Porsche will not join F1 grid in 2026 (2nd Update)

According to a report on Motorsport-Total.com, Porsche has now decided against pursuing options in grand prix racing.

Now, Porsche itself has confirmed that the F1 project has been shelved for the time being as the company’s motorsport focus will be elsewhere.

“Motorsport will always be at the core of our brand identity,” said a statement from the company. “Formula 1 remains an interesting racing series for us.”

But with it currently committed to racing in WEC and IMSA, as well as Formula E, Porsche added about its other activities: “There, we want to fight for overall victories. That’s our tradition and our main focus.”

It’s clear now that Porsche does not feel it is good enough to do its own engine in F1, and has to settle for lessor formula.

(GMM) Porsche has definitively decided against entering Formula 1.

Audi was actually the second of the two Volkswagen brands to signal its interest in entering the sport for the start of the new engine rules era in 2026.

But a deal was ultimately struck with Sauber – while Porsche’s talks with Red Bull fell flat.

It remained possible, however, that Porsche would find another team to partner with. But according to France’s Auto Hebdo, “everything seems to indicate that Porsche has ended its project to join the 2026 grid”.

“Porsche has decided to focus on Hypercar and Formula E,” the French magazine’s Jean-Michel Desnoues wrote.

“Never say never because Porsche may return to Formula 1 someday. But it certainly won’t be in 2026,” he added.

“In any case, that is what the latest whispers from Zuffenhausen seem to indicate.”

Desnoues said his information was sourced trackside at Sebring, in Florida, during the circuit’s recent hosting of a world endurance championship round.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Unable to find an existing F1 team that would give it at least 51% controlling interest, ‘strong’ rumor has it that Porsche will not enter Formula 1 in 2026.  While the brand maintains its interest in the pinnacle of motorsport, 2026 will not be the year.

2026 is set to be one of the most significant years to come for Formula 1. The change in regulations will see a number of new brands enter Formula 1, granting the perfect moment to join the most important grid in the motorsport world.

Audi and Ford will partner respectively with Sauber and Red Bull Racing, and Cadillac will partner with Andretti Global and Renault, all with eyes focused on 2026.

But not Porsche.

Audi was able to buy a team (Sauber) to get a controlling interest.

Ford and Cadillac are not interested in controlling interest like Porsche, and are more than happy to ride on the coattails of others with a small technical involvement.

With no other teams for sale willing to give Porsche controlling interest like Audi was capable of getting, Porsche has decided to end its formal evaluation of a program and will focus on its existing involvement in other easier categories such as the 24 hours of Le Mans and Formula E.

VW CEO Herbert Diess previously said the new F1 engine coming in 2026 meant it was probably the last chance to join the grid for a very long time.

“You can’t catch up on that when you join a new team,” said Diess.

“You need five or 10 years to be among the front-runners. In other words, you can only get onboard if you have a major rule change.

“That means you can decide now to do Formula 1 – or then probably not again for 10 years.”

With Porsche dropping out, the FIA and FOM will be keen to not lose Cadillac either, so granting Andretti Global entry as the 13th team may just have gotten a boost.