With Liberty Media taking over as F1’s new owner, there is a lot of hope for traditional automakers making a return to the greatest stage of automotive racing. FIA hopes carmakers not currently involved in F1 can play a part in planned discussions to frame engine rules for beyond 2020, when the future of current engine formula will be up for discussion. Two of those automakers that FIA hopes to get involve in F1 is BMW and Ford.
BMW last raced in F1 from 2000 until the end of 2009, when it pulled out to focus on other racing championships. Ever since, BMW has denied any plans to return to Formula 1 and emphasized their commitments to their current racing plans, which include DTM and GT racing.
Earlier this month, American car giant Ford said an F1 return was not on the agenda, with the huge costs involved in a program being the main obstacle.
“When we decided to pull out of Formula 1 in 2009 it was a long-term strategic decision of the company,” BMW told Motorsport.com‘s sister publication Autosport in a statement. “We wanted to put some of the F1 resources into the research and development of alternative powertrain solutions”
“We established ourselves as the leading premium car manufacturer in the field of electric mobility,” BMW added.
“We are watching the developments in the world of motorsport, but currently we have no plans to re-enter Formula 1.”
BMW currently runs programs in the DTM and GT racing, which will include a return to Le Mans in the GTE category in 2018.
It is also a technical partner to the Andretti team in Formula E, and is evaluating a full-entry in the electric-vehicle series for the 2018/19 season.
