China’s largest electric vehicle maker, BYD, is weighing a possible move into international motorsport, including a potential entry into F1.
A report by Bloomberg on March 10, 2026, said the company is studying several options as it looks for ways to expand its global brand.
People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that BYD is exploring different paths into racing. Those include building a new Formula 1 team or buying an existing one. The automaker is also considering endurance racing, including the FIA World Endurance Championship.
No decision has been made. The discussions remain private and early. Bloomberg reported that BYD declined to comment on the rumours.
The timing matters. Formula 1 has just added an 11th team, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, backed by General Motors, for the 2026 season. The sport’s leadership has said it wants more manufacturers involved, especially from large markets like China.
The Bloomberg report: what we know
Bloomberg reported that BYD has begun exploring how motorsport could fit into its long-term strategy. The company is studying several paths. One option would see it create a brand-new Formula 1 team from the ground up. Another would involve buying an existing operation already on the grid.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions remain private. They said endurance racing also sits on the list of possible targets.
Money could become a major barrier. Running a competitive Formula 1 team often costs hundreds of millions of dollars each season. Entry talks with the sport’s governing bodies can also take years.
Autohebdof1.com reported that BYD declined to comment to Bloomberg. That leaves the story in the exploratory stage rather than a confirmed project.
Why Formula 1, why now?
The timing lines up with major rule changes in Formula 1 for 2026. The new regulations increase the role of electric power in the hybrid engines.
The electric motor system, called the MGU-K, now delivers up to 350 kW to the rear wheels. That is almost three times the previous 120 kW output. Roughly half of the car’s total power now comes from electric energy.
That shift fits BYD’s core identity. The company stopped making pure internal combustion cars in March 2022. It now produces only battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
Formula 1 also offers a global stage. BYD recently passed Tesla to become the world’s largest electric vehicle seller. Racing in Formula 1 could help the company promote its technology as it expands into Europe and Latin America.
Alpine as the most likely acquisition target
If BYD chooses to buy a team instead of starting one, many observers point to Alpine F1 Team as a possible candidate.
The Renault-owned team competes in both Formula 1 and the FIA World Endurance Championship. That dual presence could match BYD’s reported interest in both series.
Alpine has already said it will leave the endurance championship after this season. The team also ended its own Formula 1 engine project and will become a customer team of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team starting in 2026.
Still, the path is far from clear. Renault CEO Luca de Meo has insisted the team is not for sale. Reports say he rejected a $1.2 billion bid without serious discussion.
Bloomberg, as cited by CnEVPost, noted that full team sales remain rare in Formula 1. Investors often buy partial stakes instead of entire teams.
Ben Sulayem’s push for a Chinese team
The report revived a push that Mohammed Ben Sulayem has spoken about publicly.
In an interview with the French publication Le Figaro in early 2025, the FIA president said he wants major countries represented in Formula 1. The United States achieved that goal with Cadillac and General Motors.
Ben Sulayem said the next step could be China.
“It’s been my dream for the last two years that the big countries should have a presence in Formula 1. The United States will be with General Motors. The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer,” MotorsportWeek reported.
“We already have a driver,” he said, referring to Zhou Guanyu, who became China’s first Formula 1 driver in 2022 and now serves as a reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari.
The FIA president stressed that quality matters more than numbers. He said the sport needs strong teams that can compete at a high level.
The Formula 1 obstacles that remain
Even with regulatory support, joining Formula 1 is difficult.
A new team must build factories, hire engineers, and design a competitive car. It must also gain approval from the Formula 1 Commission and sign the sport’s Concorde Agreement.
Existing teams often resist new entrants. A larger grid means prize money must be shared among more competitors.
That tension appeared during Cadillac’s approval process. Teams initially pushed back before General Motors secured the entry.
BYD has the financial strength for such a project. The company reported more than $100 billion in revenue in 2025. The bigger question is whether it wants to face years of negotiations and development before reaching the grid.
Verdict: ambition confirmed, commitment uncertain
Bloomberg’s reporting shows that BYD has begun serious internal discussions about motorsport. The company is examining possible entry points and studying the costs and logistics of a racing program.
But the reporting stops there. BYD has not filed an application to join Formula 1. It has not bought a team or announced a racing division.
The idea still sits in the planning stage. Many hurdles remain before a Chinese manufacturer could appear as Formula 1’s 12th team.
If the move ever happens, it would mark a major shift in the sport. The world’s largest EV maker would line up against brands such as Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren on the global stage.
For now, the possibility remains a closely watched question in the Formula 1 paddock.
