The head of the team’s motorsport division, Thomas Laudenbach, confirmed the decision to forgo F1: “It’s not in our plans, we’re already well served”
One of the scenarios most eagerly anticipated by fans over the decades has undoubtedly been Porsche’s entry into F1, with rumors occasionally even suggesting more. Porsche’s participation in Grand Prix racing has been limited throughout its history, with just four years and only one victory with Dan Gurney. However, many World Championships have been won with Porsche as an engine supplier. Legendary drivers like Alain Prost and Niki Lauda have driven cars powered by Stuttgart’s engines. Nonetheless, a return to F1 seems unrealistic in the near future.
In September 2022, the German team had discussions with Red Bull about a possible partnership. The relationship between the two teams had grown close, leading to speculation that contracts were indeed signed for Porsche to enter as a sponsor in 2026, the year when the new regulations will come into effect. Recently, however, the head of Porsche’s motorsport division reiterated that entering F1 is not in the company’s plans.
In Stuttgart, the focus will remain on the WEC, without embarking on the challenging yet fascinating path of Formula 1. Resources will also be invested in the IMSA project, shifting focus to North America.
F1 was once considered a “good environment” to expand the company’s horizons, but in less than two years, the mindset within the company has evidently changed. In addition to the aforementioned categories, Porsche has also shifted its focus towards Formula E and GT categories, which have always been the team’s cornerstone and are preferred over the pinnacle of motorsport.
Thomas Laudenbach’s Words: “F1 is Out of Consideration”
The TP explained: “It’s out of the question: at the moment, F1 is not a task for us, and we are not spending any energy on this. We are focused only on what we are doing right now, and if you look closely, we have many different activities. We are well occupied and extremely happy with what we are doing”.
The German continued: “We are committed to customer racing, GT4, one-make series up to professional GT racing. Additionally, we are competing in the two most important endurance racing series, WEC and IMSA, with our partner Penske. Another project is the electrification of our brand, which is very important, and we guarantee our commitment to Formula E, the only high-level full-electric series”. Laudenbach concluded: “I think we are really well served”.
Porsche enthusiasts will have to wait until the brand chooses to return to Formula 1… if they ever decide to do so.
Photo: Porsche Italy, Formula 1
