Formula 1’s 2026 power-unit changes ‘too late’ to entice BMW

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, has made it clear that a 2026 F1 entry is 'not a topic' for them, as the hybrid engine changes to come too late.

Formula 1’s 2026 power-unit changes ‘too late’ to entice BMW

BMW-Sauber F1 Team (Image Credit: Roberto Garcia)

Formula 1 will begin to utilize more electrical components than ever before in 2026, with about three times the electrical power than is currently used. It will also use 100% sustainable fuel, which is a huge step for a sport that is much maligned for its environmental impact. In addition to these two on the car side, there’s also the cost cap. All of these steps, plus the popularity boom F1’s experiencing currently (particularly in the US) has attracted big OEMs to it.

Audi will be on the grid (after taking over Sauber) in 2026. Porsche are (or were) also interested, but their deal with Red Bull faltered. The British team has partnered up with Ford instead. There’s another American OEM interested in F1, which is General Motors, who have teamed up with Andretti. But BMW, who pulled out of the sport in 2009 (ending their collaboration with Sauber), are not interested in a return. For them, the sport’s move to ‘hybrid’ (in 2026) comes too late.

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Ford had highlighted the sport’s focus on sustainability (and the increased electrical power) as key in their decision to return. BMW remain committed to sustainability, but F1 is not of any interest to them. Speaking to Speedcafe, their motorsport boss, Andreas Roos, said: “When we’re honest, Formula 1 goes hybrid 2026, they are at the moment already but with a hybrid system which has no relevance at all. And so 2026, they go to a hybrid system which you already see in cars.”

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Andreas Roos: Formula 1 ‘not a topic’ for BMW at the moment

Robert Kubica in the BMW-Sauber F1.09
Robert Kubica in the BMW-Sauber F1.09

Andreas Roos cited the fact that BMW are involved in the IMSA (which currently uses a ‘road relevant’ hybrid system) and the WEC. Development and promotion of [electric or otherwise] cars obviously play an important role in Formula 1 involvement for many manufacturers. Currently, BMW already achieve this goal in other series. He said: “But this happens 2026. We do the IMSA championship already and the WEC [World Endurance] next year on with a hybrid system, which has road relevance.“

Like with the hybrid system, Roos felt F1’s change to sustainable fuel also comes too late. He said: “So this is for us already, basically three years earlier. And this is why it’s at the moment, perfectly fitting to us, as I said to our road cars. And then this is why, for us, to be honest Formula 1, the change is too late to go in this direction. It’s a similar story with sustainable fuel, which is already in use in sportscar racing but will only be introduced to F1 for 2026.”

The BMW M Motorsport boss made it clear that F1 is ‘not a topic’ for BMW at all. Formula 1 may be considered ‘the pinnacle of motorsport’ very often, but clearly, whatever it’s doing seems to not be enough to attract BMW back to the sport.

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