Porsche ready to evaluate F1 return
Discussion
Porsche is to seriously evaluate a return to Formula 1, its new chairman Matthias Mueller has revealed at the Paris Motor Show on Friday.
Speaking to AUTOSPORT's sister publication Autocar, Mueller said he expected his company's motorsport activities - which encompasses Porsche and Audi through its tie-up with the Volkswagen Group - to include both top-level sportscars and F1 in the near future.
He made it clear that he expected either Porsche or Audi to have an LMP1 car in the future - while the other brand would then enter F1.
Audi has competed in the Le Mans prototype class since 1999 and is working on a new car - the R18 - for 2011. Porsche ended its factory sportscar programme in 1998 - though it did produce the LMP2 RS Spyder for customer teams from 2005 onwards - and would be the logical choice for a return to F1 for the first time since 1991.
"With LMP1, there are two classes and two brands - Audi and Porsche. We do not like to both go into LMP1 [against each other]; that is not so funny," Mueller told Autocar's website.
"So therefore we have to discuss whether it makes better sense for one of the [two] brands to go into LMP1, and the other brand into F1. So we will have a round-table to discuss the pros and cons."
Porsche's entry to F1 would most likely be as an engine supplier, rather than having a whole team. It would also make most sense for the company to enter the sport in 2013, when all-new engine regulations are set to be introduced.
Source http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87103
Speaking to AUTOSPORT's sister publication Autocar, Mueller said he expected his company's motorsport activities - which encompasses Porsche and Audi through its tie-up with the Volkswagen Group - to include both top-level sportscars and F1 in the near future.
He made it clear that he expected either Porsche or Audi to have an LMP1 car in the future - while the other brand would then enter F1.
Audi has competed in the Le Mans prototype class since 1999 and is working on a new car - the R18 - for 2011. Porsche ended its factory sportscar programme in 1998 - though it did produce the LMP2 RS Spyder for customer teams from 2005 onwards - and would be the logical choice for a return to F1 for the first time since 1991.
"With LMP1, there are two classes and two brands - Audi and Porsche. We do not like to both go into LMP1 [against each other]; that is not so funny," Mueller told Autocar's website.
"So therefore we have to discuss whether it makes better sense for one of the [two] brands to go into LMP1, and the other brand into F1. So we will have a round-table to discuss the pros and cons."
Porsche's entry to F1 would most likely be as an engine supplier, rather than having a whole team. It would also make most sense for the company to enter the sport in 2013, when all-new engine regulations are set to be introduced.
Source http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87103
Mazda Baiter said:
Torro Rosso would look like a sensible option, but if I was Frank Williams, I would be swallowing my pride and trying to get into bed with VAG. It could be a superb way to ensure WilliamsF1's future.
I agree would be good for williams, or possibly Mclaren what with mercedes having their own team now and everything else. who knows.freedman said:
Terrible idea
Porsche should return to front line sports cars where it belongs
Audi should go to F1
Apart from if you want to go back to the Auto Union days, surely Audi belongs in SportsCars rather than F1?Porsche should return to front line sports cars where it belongs
Audi should go to F1
Porsche on the other hand has a few F1 titles to it's name as an engine supplier.
mrmr96 said:
Teppic said:
Everyone seems to be forgetting the disasterous Porsche V12 engine that powered Footwork in 1991. It was the heaviest engine in F1 at the time (by a considerable margin) and had the lowest power output.
not sure that 19yrs ago is all that relevant.So the Footwork team got hold of a Cosworth V8, the least powerful engine available at that time, or so they thought. The Porsche engine came in about 20bhp down, and about 50kg heavier. That's when they realised the enormity of the challenge ahead... and they did a quick cost calculation. They weren't prepared to put more money into the project and left F1 completely soon after.
On the flip side, however, when they have someone to share the costs with, or indeed take most of the costs, they ended up with the TAG-McLaren engine, which was fully developed by Porsche.
So they have the expertise to do it - it's just that they *really* don't like spending money...
Mazda Baiter said:
Gaz. said:
I'd also put money on Mclaren using their own engines.
I believe that without directly confirming it, McLaren have certainly made noises that that is the direction in which they wish to go.LordGrover said:
...Porsche engines would make a great addition.
Because, of course, the regulations allow such latitude that it will be easy to tell one from any of the others...If the engine regs were freed up considerably, it'd be call for shouting. As it is, adding VAG does nothing for me. And it will do nothing for their road cars either (for better or worse).
DiscoColin said:
Personally I'd far rather see them back in endurance racing making a competitive customer LMP1 car for a set of rules that didn't favour tractors, thus this story has disappointment written all over it for me. If it does happen though, it has to go into the McLaren IMHO...
I share your deep disappointment.F1 is not Porsche's home and I suspect that any future involvement will turn out to be transient. As for going with McLaren;I'm not sure the tie-up would suit Porsche marketing due to McLaren now making competing road cars.
Iain328 said:
Mazda Baiter said:
Gaz. said:
I'd also put money on Mclaren using their own engines.
I believe that without directly confirming it, McLaren have certainly made noises that that is the direction in which they wish to go.Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff