BMW could consider a return as early as 2015

The history of BMW in Formula 1 is long-standing. The German brand participated as early as the 1950s and 1960s without encountering success. It was only during its third attempt in 1982 that it achieved its first victory at the Canadian Grand Prix before finding consecration in 1983 in the drivers’ championship with Nelson Piquet at the wheel. The engine powering the Brazilian’s Brabham was a turbocharged 4-cylinder developing 900hp. The German engine manufacturer then equipped the Williams team from 2000 to 2005, and later bought the Sauber team, which it sold back to Peter Sauber in 2009.

The new regulations are far from gaining unanimous approval among fans, circuit owners, and even some team owners. However, it is said to attract manufacturers who could then transfer the technology to their production vehicles. This is why Renault has been advocating for the new regulations.

Similarly for Mercedes, Thomas Weber, the head of development at the star-studded firm, stated to the BBC that the Daimler-Benz board of directors was questioning their participation in the Formula 1 World Championship during the V8 era. He said: “We debated the issue at the time; Formula 1 was not unanimous within the board of directors. We really had lively discussions, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to explain that we were still using naturally aspirated engines.”

Now, with this new regulation, I can clearly convince the board of directors that our F1 program directly meets what we need: a smaller displacement engine, with direct injection, a lighter construction, efficient fuel consumption, using new technologies and combining a combustion engine and a hybrid engine.

This is confirmed by Giancarlo Minardi on his site Minardi.it: The engine revolution marking this new era of Formula 1 involves several manufacturers both on and off the track. We have always stated that several manufacturers have tested these new power units, which will represent the future of production cars, regardless of their participation in the Formula 1 World Championships.

About a potential return of BMW, he comments: « There is a German rumor circulating that the BMW board of directors would meet in May to discuss a potential return to F1 as early as 2015. The initiator of this project is Steven Althaus, director of brand management and marketing services at BMW. A confirmation of BMW’s concrete willingness to consider the future project is the continuous presence of technicians, both during pre-season testing and during the first races, with the aim of gathering important information. »

Minardi believes that such a project would be very positive for the discipline: « The arrival of the German manufacturer could be a breath of fresh air for this formula, both from a technical and economic standpoint, by helping teams that are currently in a difficult situation. » This is especially true for Lotus, which is in financial and sporting trouble, or Sauber, which was formerly owned by BMW from 2005 to 2009.

If this project were to materialize, the 2015 season could well revive the era of big factories, at least in terms of engines, as Honda is already set to return next year with McLaren.