BYD is reportedly looking to enter Formula 1 and endurance racing. According to “people familiar with the matter”, as reported by Bloomberg, the move is aimed at boosting its global brand appeal.
The report mentioned that BYD is looking to grow its image beyond its lineup of electric vehicles (EV). Traditionally, brands turn to motorsports to boost their appeal, and there may be no better time than now as modern racing series begin shifting towards hybrid powertrains.
These range from the World Endurance Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to Formula 1, either through building its own team or via a potential acquisition of an existing team
It’s also worth noting that Formula 1 has already been running hybrid powertrains for more than a decade, with the current 2026 regulations placing an even greater emphasis on electric power. Most notably, the new rules introduce a boost mode that allows drivers to manually control energy deployment. Under these regulations, the car will effectively rely on roughly 50% electric power.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, however, such a move could prove particularly challenging for BYD due to the immense costs involved. Developing and running a competitive entry could cost up to USD500 million (approx. RM1.95 billion) per season and would likely require years of preparation and negotiations.
For now, no final decision has been made, and BYD may ultimately choose not to enter any racing series. A BYD spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
ALSO READ: Denza Z9 GT shooting brake confirmed for Malaysia – launching as early as Q2 2026
The head of the FIA, F1’s governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has shown support for welcoming a Chinese team. In an interview with Le Figaro last year, Sulayem said a Chinese manufacturer would be the next logical step for the sport, following the arrival of Cadillac.
BYD first started out as a battery manufacturer and has recently achieved even more success with its EV endeavours over the past five years. The company is now well known for producing high-quality hybrid and EV vehicles at an affordable price, making electrified vehicle solutions more accessible.
ALSO READ: BYD Ocean Series to gain new Seal 08 sedan and Sealion 08 SUV flagships, to debut Q1 2026
Alongside its passenger vehicles, BYD has also ventured into the hyper car segment with models like the Yangwang U9 — and it’s no laughing matter. Just last year, the company unveiled the limited-run Yangwang U9 Extreme, with only 30 units planned for production.
The hypercar reportedly produces a staggering 3,019 hp and even reached a top speed of 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) during a test run. It also lapped the Nordschleife in 6:59.157, making it unofficially the fastest road-legal EV around the legendary Green Hell. If BYD were to bring its EV know-how into F1, it could result to quite an interesting car.
READ MORE: BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme claims title as fastest production EV around the Nürburgring
