Chinese automotive brands aren’t exactly known for their motorsport ventures, as very few of them are currently involved in such endeavours—Geely and Nio being such examples.
However, things might change once and for all, as leading new energy vehicle marque BYD is looking to start its own motorsport venture by aiming straight at the pinnacle of motor racing, Formula One (F1).
BYD Aiming Straight to the Top
As reported by Bloomberg, the NEV marque is looking into the possibilities of an F1 entry in the future, or even other forms of motorsports such as endurance racing, as a bid to increase its brand awareness on a global scale.
Although no exact details were shared on how exactly they are planning to do so, said report suggested that BYD would be interested in doing it either through building their own works team from scratch or acquiring an existing outfit.
While BYD hasn’t been making full combustion (ICE) cars since March 2022 to focus more on EVs and hybrids, its ambitious plan to enter F1 is not just a pipe dream at this stage, as the motorsport recently introduced regulation changes that rely more on the electrical components of its hybrid powertrain than ever.
New Regulations Might Favour NEV Carmakers
Starting 2026 onwards, all F1 power units will feature a new MGU-K system that produces up to three times more power than before, capable of reaching up to 350 kW of max power compared to 120 kW on the previous-gen unit.
With this, the electrified components now make up roughly 50% of an F1 car’s total power output, while using fully sustainable fuels as part of its net-zero carbon footprint initiative.
It makes perfect sense for NEV marques like BYD to try venturing into F1 now, as the regulations now rely heavier on electrification than ever, thus potentially providing competitive and technical advantages for the brand to excel in its potentially first-ever motorsport venture.
A Road Less Travelled—For Good Reasons
That said, getting into F1 is definitely not a walk in the park, as it is very time-consuming and a very expensive endeavour that can easily drain their coffers in no time. Given the current strict regulations and added bureaucracy, developing and entering an F1 car could take years to complete, with costs going as much as US$ 500 million (RM1.965 billion) a season.
This also explains why recent entries into the sport often involve taking over an existing outfit, which was recently done by Audi that took full control of Sauber’s F1 programme.
Another hurdle is the current state of the F1 grid, which recently welcomed the 11th team in the form of Cadillac Racing. Before their entry was approved, Cadillac and GM as a whole had been negotiating with Formula One Management (FOM) for years, so BYD might be facing similar situations should they opt to start on their own.
Having said that, F1’s recent, post-pandemic rise undeniably makes it one of the most watched sporting events in the world, and the recent return of the Shanghai Grand Prix back in 2024 also helped to boost the sport’s popularity back in Mainland China.
Not to mention, having China’s first and only Formula One driver in Zhou Guanyu a few years’ back also helped to further boost its popularity among locals, but it remains to be seen how much BYD can capitalise from these circumstances.
