BYD & Geely Have Expressed Interest To Enter F1, Says FIA President
BYD's Yangwang U9 hypercar set a new record as the world's fastest production road car, reaching a top speed of 495km/h.
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Chinese automotive giants BYD and Geely have both held discussions with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) regarding a potential entry into F1, the motorsport governing body has confirmed
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem named both electric vehicle (EV) powerhouse BYD and automotive conglomerate Geely, which owns Lotus, Volvo, Polestar, and holds a significant stake in Malaysia's national carmaker Proton.
He made the remarks while addressing the New Economy Forum in Madrid, according to Grande Primo.
However, neither manufacturer has secured an agreement, and the FIA has yet to open an official bidding process for a 12th spot on the grid.
The BYD Yangwang U9 hypercar reached 495km/h, setting a new record as the world's fastest production car.
Image via NotebookcheckDuring his talks with BYD, Ben Sulayem revealed that he advised the automaker to acquire an existing team rather than building an operation from scratch
BYD rejected the suggestion, insisting that it wanted to launch its own works team instead of acquiring an existing one.
In response, Ben Sulayem challenged the automaker to return with a "serious proposal" demonstrating its technical and financial capabilities.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Image via BBCWhile Ben Sulayem reiterated his desire to welcome a Chinese manufacturer onto the grid, citing China's booming EV industry and the established Shanghai Grand Prix, he stressed that no special concessions would be granted
Any prospective bid must go through the standard regulatory procedures, mirroring the lengthy process General Motors endured before entering F1 with Cadillac as the 11th team this season, using Ferrari customer power units.
For BYD, the discussions follow months of cautious evaluation. Although executive vice president Stella Li confirmed earlier this year that executives had met Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali in Shanghai, she noted in July that the firm lacked a concrete agenda.
Meanwhile, BYD special advisor Alfredo Altavilla insisted the brand would never join merely for marketing exposure, stating that its proprietary technology must actively contribute to the sport.
Geely represents a fresh contender in paddock negotiations
Having sold 3.02 million vehicles last year, the group already has a motorsport heritage through its ownership of the historic F1 marque Lotus.
Yet, a glaring technical contradiction complicates any potential Chinese entry
While F1's current 2026 regulations split power output evenly between internal combustion engines and 350kW electric motors, the FIA agreed in June to shift that balance to 60-40 in favour of combustion for 2027 and 2028.
Ben Sulayem is also actively lobbying to introduce sustainable-fuel V8 engines with minimal electrification by 2030 or 2031. Such a shift would move F1 away from battery technology, potentially weakening the engineering rationale for major EV manufacturers to enter the sport.
