Horner in talks with BYD over F1 team entry

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is in discussions with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD about heading a potential 12th Formula 1 team entry.

The talks took place during BYD’s activation event at the Cannes Film Festival last week, where Horner met with the company’s executive vice president Stella Li to discuss Formula 1 opportunities and potential partnerships.

Horner was dismissed from Red Bull midway through last year and has been exploring options for a return to grand prix racing. Previous interest from Aston Martin did not progress to a deal, while he has also been linked with a bid to purchase a stake in Alpine.

The discussions with BYD represent a new avenue for Horner’s F1 comeback, with the Chinese manufacturer having long expressed interest in entering the sport.

BYD’s F1 ambitions

BYD, which specialises in electric and hybrid vehicles, has been actively exploring Formula 1 options. Li revealed earlier this year that she had discussed ideas with F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali at the Chinese Grand Prix.

“I like Formula 1 because it’s about passion, culture and people dream of being in Formula 1…it’s something we’re discussing. It’s a real opportunity to test our technology,” Li told Italian publication SportMediaset.

The company’s preference is understood to be establishing a completely new team rather than purchasing an existing operation. This approach would give BYD full control and allow it to build a project from the ground up.

Sources suggest the Cannes discussions were positive, though no final decisions were made on proceeding with the F1 project.

Timing and opportunity

The timing is significant as Horner is now free to return to F1 work following the expiration of a non-compete clause agreed as part of his Red Bull severance package.

For Horner, a BYD partnership would offer the opportunity to build and control a team from scratch, rather than joining an existing operation with established shareholders and management structures.

Any new team entry would require Formula 1 to reopen its entry process, similar to what occurred with Cadillac’s recent approval. However, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has previously expressed support for Chinese manufacturer participation.

“If there is a Chinese , and I will speak on behalf of FOM, they will agree to that, because it is about sustaining the business,” Ben Sulayem said last year.

“If there is a team from China, let’s say, and FOM approved it, and I am 100% they will approve it, wouldn’t it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes.”

BYD has established a growing presence in global automotive markets, including New Zealand where it sells electric vehicles through distributor Ateco Automotive. The company’s financial resources would be sufficient for the substantial investment required for a competitive F1 operation.

While any new team entry would take considerable time to materialise, the discussions represent a significant development in both Horner’s career prospects and BYD’s motorsport ambitions.