BMW M declines Formula 1 interest to focus on endurance racing

BMW M Managing Director Franciscus van Meel has stated that the company has no current interest in returning to Formula 1, despite the sport's growing popularity and the entry of new manufacturers like Audi, Cadillac, and Ford.

Van Meel explained that Formula 1 is too much of a “laboratory” and is not sufficiently transferable to production cars. He noted that the BMW M brand focuses on bringing motorsport technology directly to consumer vehicles, a goal he believes is better served by endurance racing.

Instead, BMW is prioritizing participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The company views these series as more aligned with its philosophy, particularly noting that the United States is a critical market for BMW M, accounting for approximately 40 percent of its volume.