VW considering future engine supplier role
November 27, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under Prime & Option
Volkswagen has its eye on 2012, when the big German auto maker could jump into F1 as an engine supplier.
Autosport is reporting the story today.
Volkswagen is seriously evaluating a move into Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2012, when new power unit regulations due to be introduced could make the sport attractive enough for the German car maker to get involved.
Although F1 has been rocked by the withdrawal of three manufacturers in the last 12 months – with Honda, BMW and Toyota all quitting the sport – the Volkswagen Group believes that the sport is actually becoming more attractive with the way rules are heading.
The German car manufacturer’s representative Hans-Joachim Stuck says his company would not be interested in becoming a partner with a team – as was rumoured several years ago when it was linked with a deal to buy into Red Bull Racing – but would be up for supplying engines.
However, Stuck has made it clear that the possibility to supply power units to a number of outfits, especially if there was a ‘world engine’, would be enough to attract Volkswagen into F1.
“If you’re the world’s largest manufacturer is natural that we’re thinking about [Formula 1], but not before 2012,” Stuck told AUTOSPORT about Volkswagen’s F1 ambitions.
A natural question is how the team would brand the engine: Porsche, Audi or VW.
An interesting part of the story is how Stuck describes the state of F1:
Stuck claims Formula 1′s return to expanded grids, and low-cost regulations, has put the sport firmly on Volkswagen’s radar.
“Now it’s amazing; Formula 1 goes the right way,” said Stuck. “Many manufacturers have pulled out, which I think is a great deal, because we have manufacturers that we don’t know for how long they will do it.
“They should become engine manufacturers and then lease the engine, sell the engine or give it to somebody. Then you lose all the hassle with teams, wind tunnels, engineers, you know.
“It’s like Formula 1 in my days. We had March, we had Lotus, and we had Ford engines. Then Renault came in as engine manufacturer, with a formidable engine. This was perfect.
He’s saying what the FIA leadership, seemingly, would want to hear — in fact, some of it sounds like he found it in an FIA press release.
My initial thought is, along with Mercedes’ buy-in to F1, this is a promising sign of F1′s future health, which has been a little shaky. But I’m not sure Stuck is saying what a lot of us fans — at least the reaction and discussion I tend to see here — want to hear. If VW is interested because of “limits” — financial, technical or otherwise — being put on the sport, then I’m less excited. If VW wants to compete with other suppliers to provide the world’s most advanced, highly tuned engine, then I’m interested in where this story may go.
Your reactions? Would you welcome a VW-brand engine to the grid? Do you take this news as a positive sign?
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I’m up for it as long as the engines are branded VW….
What’s wrong with Porsche in F1? Wouldn’t any manufacturer want to supply engines to a majority of the grid at this level of motorsport? It might make it profitable as well in volume. It cheapens the sport though – doesn’t winning mean less if you supply 2/3 of the grid with engines? I guess the reason why I object to a single supplier. Isn’t the FIA learning its lesson from a single tire supplier?
If VW wants to go racing in a couple of different series, they could race Porsche in F1, Audi in ALMS/GTC, and VW in BTC/WRC. Don’t they also own Lamborghini? Oh wait, they don’t race.
Does anyone know what these new power regulations are? Just a personal opinion but I see the Audi/Porsche/VW brand hierarchy similar to an Infiniti/Nissan, Acura/Honda, etc. It wouldn’t make sense to me why they would use the VW brand for their F1 engines. An Audi or Porsche branding would make more sense to me, given their involvement in other racing series.
Does anyone remember Mad Max’s world engine proposal for 2013? F1, WRC, F2 and other categories would share the same basic engine with turbocharging differentiating the technology level. It has the makings of a disaster for fans who want F1 to remain the pinnacle of motorsport.
I agree with most of what Stuck states. However, he specifically references the “world engine” as driving the interest for VW. I’m not sure this is a good thing.
How sweet would it be to see the engine with a Bug or Lambo badge.. lol
VW and McLaren…sounds feasible and I said that Macca can’t go without a girlfriend for very long…they need a manufacturer to woo.
when they buy a team they better call it JettaF1 or I’m buying a Land Rover…. I’ve been driving one for a week and for $75k I’d expect more fun on the street but I got to off-road today and I’m sold
So, Formula 1 is still attractive for manufacturers. Reality is that Toyota, BMW and Honda pulled out because of the lack of results and not (only) because they had financial troubles. When you win – or perhaps get valuable points – you can afford the challenge. Think about Mercedes…
SJ, I have to agree with your statements about being “less excited” given VW’s interest in the sport only due to the potentially pending “limits” being proposed. The prospect of having a VW brand in F1 is fantastic at first glance, but their getting involved only if these “counter to everything that is F1″ limits are imposed is not interesting to me. If I have to chose between having one of VW’s premium brands participate in F1 and the sport remaining the technical pinnacle of motorsport…I’ll chose the latter everyday and twice on Sunday. The day standardization and over-reaching limitations are imposed on F1 is the day they sport ceases to be F1…so at that point, who cares if VW is involved or not.