BMW has once again made clear it has no interest in entering Formula 1, citing the series' lack of technology transfer to road cars as the main reason. The Munich-based manufacturer believes sportscar racing aligns better with its philosophy.
Since selling its majority stake in Sauber in 2009, BMW has stayed away from F1, even as the series' popularity has surged and attracted other automakers. The same Sauber team is now under Audi's ownership, and F1's 2026 regulations have lured Cadillac and Ford (as Red Bull's engine partner) into the fold. Porsche also seriously considered a Red Bull tie-up before talks collapsed in late 2022, leaving BMW as the only major German manufacturer yet to show interest in F1.
According to BMW M boss Frank van Meel, F1 simply doesn't fit into its motorsport philosophy, which is built on technology transfer.
"Formula 1 is too far removed for us; it's too much of a laboratory and doesn't translate well enough to production cars," van Meel told Motorsport.com. "In Formula 1, it would be a completely separate technology centre, detached from the rest."
He added, "Our customers and fans certainly like Formula 1, but they also like motorsport that's more direct and closer to production cars. The story behind M is that we bring motorsport into production cars. And Formula 1 simply doesn't fit into that for us."
While BMW is absent from F1, it is heavily involved in sportscar racing. The BMW M Hybrid V8 is its flagship racer, campaigned by the factory WRT team in both the WEC and IMSA championships. This dual programme allows BMW to compete in iconic races like Le Mans and Daytona. The company also sells GT3 and GT4 versions of its popular M4 model to customer teams globally.
Van Meel emphasized the importance of the US market, which accounts for around 40% of BMW M's volume. "BMW grew big in the USA through motorsport," he said, adding that IMSA is extremely important. "WEC and IMSA are a good fit because of direct technology transfer. For example, the M Concept New Class incorporates elements from the M4 GT3, such as the airflow-optimized hood and diffuser."
With a clear focus on sportscar racing and the lucrative US market, BMW seems content to stay away from F1's glitz and glamour.
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