BMW’s Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt has shot-down hopes of the marque returning to F1, indicating the current technology can’t be applied to their road car business.
Despite a relationship with the sport that stretches back to 1952, Marquardt believes that BMW’s development has taken it down a different path.
“The V6 Turbo Hybrid is an engine that has absolutely nothing to do with what we do in series production,” he told Auto Bild.
“From an engineering perspective, I have to say: hats off to what they do in Formula One, but the technology has no relevance for the road.”
Most recently in F1 as works team BMW Sauber from 2006-2009, the German manufacturer’s entry was one of several casualties during the global financial crisis. A popular name suggested as a fifth engine supplier alongside Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda, it seems neither the hybrid technology of the current power units, nor the impending regulatory changes in 2021 are enough to entice them back.
Instead, the company intends to maintain its focus on Formula E, where its BMW i Andretti Motorsport team has won two of the three races so far in the 2019-20 season. Previously Marquardt has been vocal of the “enormous benefit” that series has provided to the production of the “BMW i” sub-brand of electric and hybrid models.