The latest rumours suggest that Chinese carmaker BYD is preparing a surprise move to enter Formula 1. 

The F1 gossip mill is feverishly active at the best of times, but apparently ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been seen in talks with BYD’s executive vice president Stella Li in the south of France with a view to heading up the carmaker’s new team, suggesting that plans are fairly advanced. 

Li also reportedly met with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali at the Chinese grand prix in March, telling media after the meeting that she thought F1 would be an opportunity for the company to test its technology. 

A company spokesperson we asked about the rumours said they weren't aware of any plans to enter F1, so it's still early days. 

Christian Horner would be a big name hire for a new team – it’s not known yet whether BYD would favour a clean sheet team taking up the 12th slot on the grid, or if it plans to buy an existing outfit. Alpine would be a potential target, but any of the current teams would be an expensive purchase. 

F1 is currently locked in something of an existential crisis, with teams at loggerheads over whether to continue with the current level of electrification that has proven controversial since new cars with a greater share of electrical power were introduced for 2026. 

Carmakers like Mercedes and Audi have been drawn to the sport with a promise of the opportunity to showcase their electric technology, so any moves to dilute that could prove an issue. 

Why would BYD be interested in F1?

It will be the question that's getting asked inside BYD headquarters – what would be the point of an F1 team? Would it mean a boost for sales of the Dolphin Surf city car, for example?

BYD is primarily known as the world’s largest EV manufacturer, but it does build a number of plug-in models with combustion engines. 

You would have thought that Formula E would be more up BYD’s street, but perhaps it’s just not big enough – the all-electric race series hasn't cut through to the general public in the way that its founders might have hoped.

The Chinese carmaker could be looking at F1 as purely a marketing effort to promote the company, or it’s focused on embarrassing established carmakers in their backyards. 

That said, while there’s battery tech at work in the sport, it would be a good place to show off your technology. BYD recently unveiled the second generation of its Blade battery technology that can charge at up to 1,500kW.