Porsche Will Not Be Entering F1 In 2026 After It Fails To Find A Partner

Porsche's plan to join the F1 grid for the first time since the early 90s was halted when Red Bull declined its proposed partnership. Despite this setback, Porsche executives remain interested in the sport, but a recent report from The Race suggests that the carmaker has given up on finding a suitable partner for the 2026 F1 regulations. According to the report, "Porsche will not join the Formula 1 grid in 2026 as it is believed to have ended its formal evaluation of a program despite the championship still being of interest." While Porsche's sister company, Audi, is set to join the F1 grid in 2026 by acquiring a controlling stake in the Sauber F1 team, Porsche has not found a viable partner. Porsche's plans to develop an F1 engine with Red Bull's new Powertrains division fell apart when Red Bull management vetoed Porsche's request to have a controlling stake in the racing operation. Meanwhile, Red Bull has formed a branding partnership with Ford, and Audi's attempts to acquire current F1 teams like McLaren were rejected. This leaves Porsche in a position where it cannot buy into F1 and doesn't have the expertise to develop an engine in-house. At the same time, it isn't willing to make a financial commitment to start an F1 program from scratch. Former VW boss Herbert Dies had revealed a couple of years ago that if Porsche or any VW group brand were to enter F1, it would be when the 2026 engine regulations came into place. However, it is unlikely that this will happen. Porsche had hoped to acquire a 50% stake in Red Bull Racing, but the talks fell apart. As a result, Porsche has not registered as an engine manufacturer. While there is an FIA proposal that could add another two teams to the F1 grid, including the Cadillac Andretti union which will be powered by a Renault engine, Porsche will not be among them.