F1 is now owned by Liberty Media and the FIA is hoping that some traditional automakers will make a comeback, including BMW and Ford. However, BMW reiterated that they have no plans to make a Formula 1 comeback.
BMW raced in Formula 1 from 2000 until the end of 2009 when they pulled out and shifted focus away to other racing championships like DTM and GT racing. That has been the case until today. Ford also said that they have no interest in participating in F1 again. One of the main reasons is the huge costs involved in doing so.
“When we decided to pull out of Formula 1 in 2009 it was a long-term strategic decision of the company,†BMW told Motorsport.com. “We wanted to put some of the F1 resources into the research and development of alternative powertrain solutionsâ€
“We established ourselves as the leading premium car manufacturer in the field of electric mobility,†BMW added.
“We are watching the developments in the world of motorsport, but currently we have no plans to re-enter Formula 1.â€
BMW currently runs programs in the DTM and GT racing, including an exciting return to Le Mans in the GTE category in 2018. BMW is also the technical partner to the Andretti team in Formula E and may participate in the 2018/19 electric-vehicle series.