BMW has cited a scarcity of alternatives for know-how switch as the important thing purpose why it isn’t occupied with becoming a member of Mercedes and Audi in Components 1.
The Munich-based producer has remained absent from F1 because it offered its majority stake in Sauber in 2009, regardless of the sequence’ rising recognition making it extra enticing to carmakers than ever earlier than.
The identical Sauber staff that BMW beforehand owned with has now been taken over by Audi, whereas F1’s 2026 regulation overhaul has additionally been profitable in attracting different huge manufacturers like Cadillac and Ford (as Pink Bull’s engine companion) into the sequence.
Even Porsche critically thought-about a tie-up with Pink Bull earlier than talks collapsed in late 2022, leaving BMW as the one main German producer but to point out any curiosity in becoming a member of F1 lately.
In response to BMW M boss Frank van Meel, F1 merely doesn’t “match into” its motorsport philosophy, which is constructed upon transferring know-how from race vehicles to manufacturing fashions.
“Components 1 is just too far eliminated for us; it’s an excessive amount of of a laboratory and doesn’t translate nicely sufficient to manufacturing vehicles,” van Meel informed Motorsport.com’s sister title Motor1 Germany.
“In Components 1, it might be a totally separate know-how centre, indifferent from the remaining.
“Our prospects and followers definitely like Components 1, however in addition they like motorsport that’s extra direct and nearer to manufacturing vehicles. The story behind M is that we carry motorsport into manufacturing vehicles. And Components 1 merely doesn’t match into that for us.”
“BMW grew huge within the US by motorsport”
#20 BMW M Crew WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
Photograph by: Jakob Ebrey
Whereas BMW could also be absent from F1, it’s closely concerned in different types of motorsport, notably sportscar racing.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 is now its flagship automotive in motorsport, entered by the manufacturing unit WRT staff in each the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The twin programme permits it to compete in a few of the largest motor races on the earth, together with 24-hour occasions at Le Mans and Daytona.
BMW additionally sells GT3 and GT4 variations of its well-liked M4 mannequin to buyer groups around the globe.
Van Meel says these programmes are extra suited to BMW, crediting its involvement in championships like IMSA for its growing recognition within the profitable US market.
“For us, it is not simply concerning the WEC, but additionally about IMSA,” he mentioned. “The USA, with round 40% of our quantity, is a very powerful single marketplace for BMW M. BMW grew huge within the USA by motorsport. That is why IMSA is extraordinarily vital for us.
“WEC and IMSA are additionally match for us due to the direct know-how switch. For instance, the M Idea New Class incorporates components from the M4 GT3, such because the airflow-optimized hood and diffuser. The lighting graphics come from our LMDh race automotive.
“There are additionally transfers of know-how to the powertrains. We use a V8 hybrid in motorsport and have V8 hybrids within the M5 and XM. In some instances, the identical engineers work on these powertrains. We are able to take a look at sure elements extra shortly and in a extra production-ready means by these racing sequence.”
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