Porsche's Big F1 Decision Is Closer Than Ever

The2021 Formula 1 seasonhas been one of the most exciting and unpredictable in a long time. At the time of writing, Max Verstappen is currently leading the championship by just 12 points over Lewis Hamilton, so it's going to be a nail-biting end to the season. Aston Martin returned to the grid as a works team for the first time in over 60 years and now Porsche is "seriously considering"returning to the world of F1for the first time since 1991.

According toMotorsport.com, Volkswagen Group, which owns Audi and Porsche, is in talks with the FIA to discuss Porsche potentially entering Formula 1 in 2026 when new engine regulations will be in place.

Porsche's new vice president of motorsport Thomas Laudenbach is said to be "heavily involved in the decision-making process" and believes that the engine regulations required for Porsche to enter F1 are "falling into place".

这些需求之一是增加了电工实习ification of F1's turbo hybrid engines as the auto industry transitions to EVs.

"If you look into the future and you look at what car manufacturers are announcing concerning the share of electric vehicles they want to sell in the future, I think it is very important that Formula 1 does a shift towards electrification," said Laudenbach. "Yes, it is clear you can't do such a format with a [fully] battery electric vehicle. We all know that. But there needs to be a much higher priority on the electric part of the powertrain. That is important. As an OEM, you want to show yourself in motorsport, it needs to be relevant to what happens on the road."

If Porsche is going to race in F1, Laudenbach wants F1 to implement more cost-cutting measures as this would allow the electric capacity of the power units to be increased. In addition, Laudenbach suggested using more standardized parts in the combustion engine. "It's not a secret that we are thinking about [F1]. It's not a secret we are talking to the FIA and it's not a secret that we are, let's say, seriously considering it," he said.