Porsche closes door on F1 return: "Not a Topic for Us"

Porsche's potential return to Formula 1 has been definitively ruled out, marking the end of speculation that has persisted since the breakdown of talks with Red Bull Racing in 2022.

Thomas Laudenbach, Porsche's motorsport chief, has declared F1 "a closed chapter" for the German marque, signaling a clear shift in the company's motorsport strategy.

From potential partnership to closed door

The announcement comes as a stark contrast to Porsche's earlier enthusiasm for an F1 comeback.

Less than two years ago, the manufacturer was on the brink of a partnership with Red Bull Racing, which would have seen Porsche acquire a 50% stake in the team and its nascent powertrain division.

However, those plans crumbled in September 2022, with Porsche citing an inability to achieve the "equal footing" it sought in the partnership.

At the time of the Red Bull negotiations' collapse, Porsche still described F1 as "an attractive environment." Now, Laudenbach's recent statement marks a definitive end to any lingering hopes of a Porsche F1 return.

"It is off the table: right now F1 is not a task for us and we are not spending any energy on that,"

Laudenbach explained, effectively closing the door on over three decades of absence from the pinnacle of motorsport.

Focusing on current motorsport endeavors

Laudenbach emphasized Porsche's satisfaction with its current motorsport portfolio, describing it as "nearly the perfect fit for the brand."

The company's racing activities span a wide spectrum, from customer racing programs to professional endurance racing and Formula E.

"We are engaged in customer racing from track days, GT4, one-make series up to professional GT racing [in GT3],"

Laudenbach outlined. He also highlighted Porsche's participation in premier endurance racing series, stating,

"On top of that we are racing in the two most important endurance racing series [the World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship] with our partner Penske."

Electrification and Formula E

In line with the automotive industry's shift towards electrification, Porsche views its involvement in Formula E as a crucial aspect of its motorsport strategy.

Laudenbach underscored the importance of this commitment, noting,

"The third part, since electrification of our brand is very important, is our engagement in Formula E, which is the only full-electric series on a high level."

Historical context and recent developments

Porsche's F1 history includes a single world championship race victory in 1962 with Dan Gurney at the wheel of a Porsche 804 at the French Grand Prix.

The marque also achieved significant success as an engine supplier, most notably powering McLaren to three consecutive world titles from 1984 to 1986 with TAG-badged engines.

The recent discussions about a potential F1 return were part of a broader Volkswagen Group initiative.

In April 2022, Volkswagen announced that both Porsche and Audi were exploring F1 entries.

While Porsche's plans have now been shelved, Audi has committed to entering F1 in 2026 as an engine supplier and has completed a takeover of the Sauber team.