Jost Capito, current Williams team principal, held the position of Volkswagen motorsport director between 2012 and 2016 and in this period the German manufacturer dominated in the WRC.
For some years now there has been talk of the Volkswagen Group’s interest in entering Formula 1 with the Audi or Porsche brand and with the next cycle of regulations concerning the power units, which will come into force in 2026, many believe that the German giant can finally take the decisive step.
Both the Audi and Porsche bosses took part in a meeting this year, where the manufacturers currently involved in Formula 1 were also present, during which the future rules for engines were discussed.
Porsche’s vice president for motorsport, Thomas Laudenbach, said earlier this month that the conditions for the German marque to enter F1 are becoming reality, and also stressed that it will not be possible to wait too long to make a final decision.
Porsche F1 livery concept
When asked how serious the Volkswagen Group’s interest in entering Formula 1 is, Capito replied: “I think it all depends on the regulations. Those that will outline the power units that will be adopted from 2026 have not yet been published. I think it all depends on this “.
“In any case, I believe that their interest is concrete. They participated in the meetings relating to the definition of future power units and I do not think they want to waste time in these meetings without a concrete interest “.
“Everything will depend on the regulations. If the VW Group deems it appropriate to take this step, it will be necessary for the board of directors to make a decision ”.
In the past, the Volkswagen Group has been listed as an engine supplier to an existing team, and Red Bull has often been cited as a possible partner. McLaren, on the other hand, has recently denied that the existence of negotiations for the purchase of the Group by VW, but has not denied the hypotheses of a possible purchase of the team present in F1.
However, Capito highlighted another aseptic. According to the Williams team principal, it would be difficult for the VW Group to enter Formula 1 with its own team, also due to problems related to the trade union world.
“It is not easy for them to be able to manage a team, but if we look back we can see how Audi has relied on the Joest team in endurance, and so has BMW. However, the VW Group has adopted different strategies over the past few years ”.
“For example, in the WRC there was an official team representing the House. I am not involved in these discussions, but I think they explain the current situation for the Group well ”.
#Understood #VWs #interest #Formula #real