BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant, is carefully evaluating a potential entry into Formula 1 by acquiring an existing team. For the company, buying a team is a faster and safer route than building a brand-new outfit from scratch, allowing it to leverage established infrastructure, personnel, and expertise while reducing risks, costs, and lead time. The group expects revenues of around 100 billion dollars for fiscal year 2025 and sees Formula 1 as an ideal platform to boost its global visibility and strengthen its position in sustainable and electric technologies.
Formula 1 recently welcomed its eleventh team with Cadillac’s arrival in 2026, proving that a new entrant can add commercial value and competitiveness even when starting from the back of the grid. This development has created a favorable environment for other manufacturers considering entry.
The FIA and FOM are particularly interested in the Asian market and the potential inclusion of a Chinese team, considered the logical next step after Cadillac. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has repeatedly expressed support for a potential Chinese F1 team, emphasizing how it could contribute to the sport’s global expansion.
The two teams under consideration
According to AMUS, BYD is closely examining two current grid teams.
The first is Alpine. The French outfit is experiencing significant uncertainty. Renault has decided to stop developing its own engines and become a Mercedes customer, a move interpreted as a signal of reduced long-term commitment. The entry of the investment fund Otro Capital with a 24% stake in 2023 further highlighted concerns about the team’s future. On top of that, rumors of a potential contest between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner to acquire that same stake have fueled doubts about Renault’s actual support.
The second team under review is Aston Martin. The British squad is also navigating a delicate phase of the 2026 season, with performances prompting unfavorable comparisons to other difficult season debuts in recent F1 history. Sources indicate that BYD is monitoring Aston Martin with interest, although specific vulnerabilities of the team have not been publicly detailed.
Advantages of acquiring an existing team
Buying an established team offers BYD concrete benefits. It would inherit a proven operational structure, a skilled technical staff, and ready-to-use logistics, significantly shortening the time needed to become competitive compared to Cadillac, which initially relies on Ferrari for power units before developing its own. Moreover, in a regulatory environment evolving toward more electric focus, BYD could capitalize on its expertise in batteries and sustainable technologies.
At present, discussions are exploratory, and no confirmations exist regarding advanced negotiations, specific timelines, or financial terms such as valuations or deal conditions. Entering F1 is far from guaranteed: it requires building a technical division capable of competing at the highest level, and the 2030 regulations are not yet finalized. Nevertheless, current reports suggest BYD is seriously exploring this path, in line with the increased engagement of other major manufacturers such as Audi, which acquired Sauber.
The potential entry of BYD would represent a major development for Formula 1, opening the door to Asian manufacturers and new commercial opportunities in the growing Chinese and Asian markets. The coming weeks and months will be decisive in determining whether these considerations lead to concrete negotiations or remain exploratory.
In summary, BYD’s interest marks a potential shift in the F1 landscape toward a more globalized, manufacturer-heavy grid. Based on the content of current paddock whispers, the “April break” might provide the perfect window for these high-level corporate maneuvers to gain traction.
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