Chinese car manufacturer BYD is exploring the possibility of entering Formula 1.<\/p>\n
The Chinese car giant is eyeing an expansion into motorsport to boost the brand\u2019s global appeal, according to a report by Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n As well as weighing up a potential F1 entry, the World Endurance Championship could be another option for BYD.<\/p>\n BYD could either build its own team to become the 12th outfit on the F1 grid, or buy into one of the existing teams in the paddock.<\/p>\n However, Bloomberg reports that the costs of entering F1 present a \u201csignificant obstacle\u201d for BYD.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n At present, no decision has been made and BYD may opt against entering any form of motorsport competition.<\/p>\n BYD is known for making affordable electric and hybrid vehicles. Recently, the company overtook Tesla as the world\u2019s top seller of EVs.<\/p>\n FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem previously made it clear that a bid from China would be welcomed in F1.<\/p>\n “I still feel we need more teams than races,” Ben Sulayem said last year. “The drivers are coming to me and saying, ‘Please, no more races\u2019.<\/p>\n “When we opened the Expression of Interest [in 2023], what was the outcome based on? Due process, competency framework, and without looking at which company it was, as long as it fulfilled the requirements of the FIA.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n “We have an 11th team. I believe we should look into the performance of the 11th team, and then, if there is a Chinese [bid], and I will speak on behalf of FOM now in front of you, they will agree to that, because it is about sustaining the business.\u201d<\/p>\n Major fallout from F1’s new rules<\/p>\n F1 has undergone its biggest rule change for 2026, with engines now having a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.<\/p>\n The new regulations were key to attracting Audi <\/a>and Cadillac<\/a> to F1, as well as tempting Honda and Ford to return to the world championship.<\/p>\n However, they have polarised opinion of the drivers and fans, with the likes of Max Verstappen<\/a> and Lando Norris<\/a> being the most critical.<\/p>\n Norris said F1 had traded the \u201cbest cars ever made\u201d for \u201cprobably the worst\u201d.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Following the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the reigning world champion added: \u201cIt’s chaos, you’re going to have a big accident, which is a shame. You’re driving and we’re the ones just waiting for something to happen and something to go quite horribly wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s not a nice position to be in, but there’s nothing we can really do about that now. It’s a shame, it’s very artificial, depending on what the power unit decides to do and randomly does at times.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just get overtaken by five cars or you can just do nothing about it sometimes. There’s nothing we can change about it, so there’s no point in saying any more, but not for me.\u201d<\/p>\n