BMW to follow Honda back into F1?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="https://www.minardi.it/esclusivo-bmw-pronta-al-rientro-in-formula-1/"><img alt="BMW Sauber F1.09 at Interlagos" data-caption="Friday, October 16, 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Robert Kubica (POL) in the BMW Sauber F1.09 This image is copyright free for editorial use ?¯???½ BMW AG" data-credit="jo.townsend" data-mep="215633" src="https://s.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/10ee9f757b174ac84485743c8 e55f3e1/200027110/P90053084.jpg" /></a><br />
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The economic downturn wrought devastating effects on motor racing. <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/tag/f1/">Formula One</a> alone lost half its engine suppliers when <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/honda/">Honda</a> left at the end of the 2008 season, and both <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> and <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> followed at the end of 2009. But things are looking up again. <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/tag/cosworth/">Cosworth</a> may have dropped out this season, reducing the engine suppliers to three: <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/ferrari/">Ferrari</a>, <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/category/renault/">Renault</a> and <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes</a>, the latter of which admits that it may have left had the engine formula not changed. But Mercedes has stayed and is dominating the championship. Honda is coming back next season. And word around the paddock is it may not be the only one.<br />
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According to <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/tag/minardi/">Giancarlo Minardi</a> - founder of the team now known as <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/tag/toro+rosso/">Scuderia Toro Rosso</a> - BMW engineers have been conspicuously spotted lately at F1 test sessions and grands prix, lending to speculation that the new engine regulations may entice the Bavarian automaker back into the series. According to Minardi, BMW's marketing division is pushing for the automaker's return to F1, with the board slated to make a decision in May. BMW would be more likely to consider an engine-supply deal rather than taking a team over like it had with <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/tag/sauber/">Sauber</a>, but with which team or teams it might collaborate remains a big question mark at this point.<br />
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As if that's not enough, <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/ford/">Ford</a> is said to be considering taking over Cosworth's aborted V6 turbo engine program to take both outfits back into the sport as well. Cosworth supplied F1 engines under the Ford banner for years, but returned under its own name for four seasons from 2010 through 2013 before shuttering its program to develop an engine to meet the new regulations adopted this season.<br />
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With Honda, BMW and Ford back on the grid, F1 would be back up to six engine suppliers like it had been in the 2008 season that marked the highest level of participation from automakers in decades.<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="https://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/14/bmw-ford-f1-return-rumors/">BMW to follow Honda back into F1?</a> originally appeared on <a href="https://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 14 Apr 2014 09:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="https://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/14/bmw-ford-f1-return-rumors/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autoblog.com/forward/20868270/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/14/bmw-ford-f1-return-rumors/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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