VW CEO Speaks Openly About Porsche Returning to Formula One in 2026
All indications are that thanks to increased popularity in the U.S. and the expected new rules, Porsche will be back in Formula One in 2026.
Thanks Netflix! You brought us Ozark, Stranger Things, BoJack Horseman, and now a Porsche return to Formula One in 2026. OK, that last one might be a bit of a stretch. However, there is no arguing that the Drive to Survive series on the streaming platform led to increased popularity of the sport in the United States. And that in part, may lead to a Porsche return to what many consider the highest form of motorsport.
Porsche has been in Formula One before scoring their only victory as a manufacturer with the 804 in the 1962 season. And they had some success with a TAG-Porsche engine that powered McLaren to championships in the mid-1980s. However, Porsche was last involved in Formula One in 1991 as an engine supplier and that did not go very well. So, they are coming back to make things right. And we get this information from none other than VW CEO Herbert Diess. In a YouTube video posted on the Volkswagen Group channel Diess speaks with residents of the town of Wolfsburg. During this discussion the topic of Porsche and Audi competing is raised. Diess is quite clear that he believes the two brands should be competing in Formula One.
Formula One Popularity
The sport has been popular throughout much of the world for many years. But in the U.S., which is a key market for Porsche Formula One was followed by a small fraction of fanatics and that is about it. The Netflix series opened the eyes of many and turned them on to this incredible sport. “Formula One is developing extremely positively worldwide,” Diess said. “The marketing that is happening there, plus Netflix, has led to Formula One’s following growing significantly in the U.S. as well. Asia is growing significantly, including among young customer groups. If you look at the major sporting events or events in the world, it’s the case that in motorsport, it’s really only Formula One that counts and is becoming increasingly differentiated. If you do motorsport, you should do Formula One as that’s where the impact is greatest.”
Porsche or Audi or Both?
“Porsche has to be the sportiest car brand in the world – so Porsche has to do motorsport,” Diess said. “And you come to the conclusion: if Porsche does motorsport, the most efficient thing is to do Formula One. You almost have to put a check mark on that.” He went on to say “Audi is a much weaker brand than Porsche. It can’t demand such a high price premium. Audi actually has the better case for Formula One because it has much greater potential for the brand.” Diess believes it makes sense for the brands to compete in Formula One, but he also said that everyone on the VW does not share his views. So, we can’t yet say definitively Porsche will be back, but we do know the head of VW is in support of it and has now spoken publicly about the possibility.
Why 2026?
There are new engine regulations that are set to go into effect in 2026. Whenever new engine regulations are put into place it levels the playing field a bit. If Porsche was to jump in next year, they would be starting from ground zero when the other manufacturers would already have a couple years of development under their belt. That is not a recipe for success. But in 2026 with the new rules, it would make sense for Porsche to jump back into the game with everyone starting on even ground.
How?
If Porsche jumps back into the Formula One circus, how will it do so? The current theory is that Porsche will partner with Red Bull and be their engine supplier. VW and Red Bull already have an alliance in the World Rally Championship circuit. The team would likely be called the Red Bull – Porsche Formula One team. Porsche will develop the power unit taking advantage of the rules in 2026 that are expected to increase the usage of electrification and synthetic fuels. If Audi jumps in, it would likely be by way of buying out an existing team.
The Announcement
If you are interested, you can checkout the video below and hear for yourself (if you can speak German) Diess talking about Porsche and Formula One. The Formula One conversation begins around the 48-minute mark of the video. It may not be a formal statement with all the details fully vetted but it sure sounds like there will be a Porsche-powered Formula One car on the grid in 2026.
Images: Porsche
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