Chinas BYD, der weltweit größte Verkäufer von Elektrofahrzeugen, erwägt einen Einstieg in die Formel 1 als ersten großen Vorstoß in den Elitesport des Autorennens. Der Autohersteller prüft Optionen wie den Kauf eines bestehenden Teams oder den Aufbau eines eigenen von Grund auf, inmitten der Hinwendung der Sportart zu Hybridmotoren. Es liegt noch keine endgültige Entscheidung vor, da die Kosten potenziell 500 Millionen Dollar pro Saison betragen und eine erhebliche Hürde darstellen.
BYD Company, das Tesla 2025 bei den Verkäufen von batterieelektrischen Fahrzeugen mit 2,25 Millionen Einheiten gegenüber Teslas 1,63 Millionen überholt hat, strebt an, seine internationale Markenbekanntheit über China hinaus zu steigern. Das Unternehmen erzielte 2025 Auslandsumsätze von über 1 Million Einheiten, ein Zuwachs von 150 Prozent, und zielt für 2026 auf 1,3 Millionen Einheiten im Ausland ab. Laut Berichten von Bloomberg und Quellen, die mit der Sache vertraut sind, prüft BYD Einstiege in wettbewerbsintensiven Motorsports, einschließlich Formel 1 und der World Endurance Championship, die die 24 Stunden von Le Mans umfasst. Options under consideration include acquiring an existing Formula 1 team or developing one independently, though the latter involves substantial financial and regulatory hurdles. Building and operating an F1 team from scratch is estimated to cost up to $500 million per season, requiring years of negotiations with the FIA and Formula One Management. For comparison, General Motors paid a $450 million anti-dilution fee to introduce Cadillac as the 11th team for the 2026 season. Alpine, owned by Renault, emerges as a potential acquisition target. The team is set to exit the World Endurance Championship at the end of the current season and switch to Mercedes engines in 2026. However, Renault CEO Luca de Meo has stated that the team is not for sale, rejecting a reported $1.2 billion bid and emphasizing its importance to the Alpine brand. The 2026 Formula 1 regulations, introducing a more electrified hybrid power unit with the MGU-K delivering 350 kW—up from 120 kW—and sustainable fuels, align with BYD's expertise in batteries, motors, and power electronics. This shift represents about 50% of the power unit's output from electric components. BYD has showcased its performance capabilities through the Yangwang U9 electric supercar, which reached 472 km/h in testing with nearly 3,000 horsepower, and by opening an all-terrain racing circuit in China last year. Other Chinese manufacturers have shown interest in global motorsport: Geely competes in touring car racing via Cyan Racing, and Nio won the inaugural Formula E driver title in 2015. Chery Group is partnering with the ACO for Le Mans, while Geely's Lynk & Co has entered endurance racing. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed support for a Chinese manufacturer's F1 entry, noting it would expand the grid to 12 teams and boost the sport's reach in Asia. BYD generated over $100 billion in revenue in 2025, providing financial capacity for such a venture, though a spokesperson declined to comment on the explorations.