Volkswagen expresses interest

Interest: Volkswagen

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Volkswagen could make an appearance in Formula One in 2012, but as an engine supplier rather than as a team owner.

The 2012 World Championship will see new engine regulations being introduced and, according to Volkswagen representative Hans-Joachim Stuck, if they are appealing then the German carmaker could be interested.

Stuck, however, ruled out the possibility of Volkswagen buying into a Formula One team as they were rumoured to be considering with Red Bull two years ago.

"If you're the world's largest manufacturer it is natural that we're thinking about (Formula One), but not before 2012," the former F1 driver told autosport.com.

"We're looking for innovative things, and Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport. Two years ago there was some talk that Volkswagen is going to buy the Red Bull F1 team, which we didn't need to buy. Why should we stick with one team if we can give our engines to more teams?

"If you buy Red Bull and Adrian Newey wants to go flying or fishing, the team is not successful any more.

"Look at BMW. They bought this multi-million dollar wind tunnel and a supercomputer and they now close the doors. Building an engine and providing it to a team is the best way."

The right way

Volkswagen's interest comes at the end of a 12-month spell which has seen Honda, BMW and Toyota withdraw their teams as they struggled to justify the sport's costs in light of a downturn in car sales.

However, Stuck explained the decision to cut F1 costs as well as the expanded grid, which in 2010 will feature 26 cars, has made the sport more interesting as far as Volkswagen are concerned.

"Now it's amazing; Formula One goes the right way," the German added. "Many manufacturers have pulled out, which I think is a great deal, because we have manufacturers that we don't know for how long they will do it.

"They should become engine manufacturers and then lease the engine, sell the engine or give it to somebody. Then you lose all the hassle with teams, wind tunnels, engineers, you know.

"It's like Formula One in my days. We had March, we had Lotus, and we had Ford engines. Then Renault came in as engine manufacturer, with a formidable engine. This was perfect.

"I followed Formula One for the last seven years with BMW and I always asked myself on the grid, with only 20 cars, what if we could have 30 cars? Now we're getting back to this.

"We have three more teams next year, 26 cars, and by having a global engine, which is good in cost and reliable, we can have 30 cars on the grid."