BMW is not keen on returning to Formula 1.

      "For us, the WEC was the destination we chose."

      BMW is not looking to join other German manufacturers Mercedes and Audi in Formula 1. After not competing in the top Le Mans class since 1999, BMW made its return to the world endurance championship in the leading Hypercar category last year. Starting in 2025, former Haas driver Kevin Magnussen will be behind the wheel of one of their cars.

      However, BMW’s motorsport director Frank van Meel emphasizes: "We’re not overlooking (F1). We’re simply not participating. This decision is intentional," he stated at the vintage car event Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. "For us, the WEC was the place to be."

      BMW departed from Formula 1 at the end of 2009, having previously owned and collaborated with the Sauber team, which is now under Audi’s ownership ahead of their 2026 F1 entry.

      Van Meel further elaborated on BMW’s continued absence from F1, saying: "The (WEC) cars are more akin to production models. We can gain insights and apply what we learn. In Formula 1, it’s nearly impossible to translate those learnings to production cars. They are too different."

      He mentioned that manufacturers in Formula 1 prioritize marketing. "Of course, we utilize it for marketing," van Meel acknowledged, "but it’s not solely for that purpose. For us, it also needs to relate to the actual cars that consumers can purchase."