Former Red Bull boss linked with new team following meetings with the Vice President of Chinese EV giant BYD.

The Chinese company has been linked with a potential F1 entry for some months now, ironically at a time the sport appears to be having second thoughts about the amount of electric energy to be used, moving away from the original 50/50 split.

Horner had been linked with a buy-in at Alpine, however the French team has now attracted the intertest of Mercedes, despite warnings from Zak Brown over 'B-teams'.

From the time it was first linked with F1, BYD has made it clear that rather than buying an existing team, it wishes to enter the sport as a twelfth outfit.

It's understood that Horner, who was in Cannes last weekend, was a guest of BYD, and it is there that he met with the company's vice president, Stella Li.

Understandably, nobody is saying anything, but in Shanghai, Li revealed that exploratory talks had taken place with FOM.

"We are always in close contact," she said. "I like Formula 1 because it's about passion and culture, and people dream of being in Formula 1."

Asked about her comments, Mohammed ben Sulayen, referring to Formula One Management (FOM) said: "If there is a Chinese bid, I will speak on behalf of them, they will agree to that, because it is about sustaining the business."

However, FOM CEO, Stefano Domenicali was quick to pour cold water on the speculation.

"We'll only evaluate a bid of great significance because I think we're already at a point with no more room, logistically, we're at the limit," he insisted.

However, at a time there already appears to be a 'tussle' between FOM and the FIA on the horizon over the return to V8 engines, and Ben Sulayem's claim of total autonomy, it should be remembered that last year the Emirati was clearly in favour of the Chinese bid.

"If there is a team from China, let's say, and FOM approved it, and I am 100 percent they will approve it, wouldn't it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes," he told reporters. "The time will come when we feel it right to open an Expression of Interest.

"We are not here to upset the other teams," he added, "but it won't be just for the sake of doing it. It has to be worth it. "For us, the 12th team has to add value to sustaining the business of Formula 1, and the business of Formula 1 is not about the income, it's about the longevity of the championship itself."

"The business of Formula 1 is not about the income?" Try telling that to Mr Sold Out.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by trackrecords, 03/06/2026 22:22

"Horner was also on the grid at the Monaco Formula e races. It would be the better 'fit', although not perhaps as 'glamourous'."

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2. Posted by Editor, 25/05/2026 23:02

"@ trackrecords

Re: there are still knock-off factories churning out 'dubious' copies of goods, complete with 'Chinglish' instructions..."

Exercise bikes for example"

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3. Posted by trackrecords, 25/05/2026 21:07

"@MossMan Oh yes, China is still making money from 'knock-offs'. I'll send you the UK HM Customs warning I received last week, regarding a consignment of 'wall wort' power supplies they had, impounded and destroyed at the Border. "Harzardess to life" was the warning regarding the same product that I had bought - and not the cheapest, either. They don't really understand the well-designed safety provisions in UK mains plugs. BYD may be the good guys, but there are still knock-off factories churning out 'dubious' copies of goods, complete with 'Chinglish' instructions..."

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4. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 24/05/2026 15:59

"Every generation tends to trust the industrial powers it grew up with and distrust newcomers.

I’m old enough to remember when Western countries dominated auto engineering. At that time, Japanese cars were seen in the UK as cheap, flimsy, underpowered, and rust-prone. Brands like Toyota, Datsun, and Honda were mocked by consumers and journalists alike. Within 15 to 20 years Japanese reliability and engineering quality had become legendary.

I think it’d be foolish to underestimate how quickly Chinese manufacturing capability can evolve. It benefits from enormous domestic scale, the state backing its industry, control of much of the EV battery supply chain, leadership in battery chemistry and electronics, and huge software engineering capacity. It won’t take long for a few of these Chinese brands to become globally-respected household names.
"

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5. Posted by MossMan, 22/05/2026 10:54

"Can we please knock off the BS about Chinese knock offs?

The truth is, BYD (alongside CATL) was the world's main lithium-ion battery manufacturer for decades (in all your Nokias and laptops) and the two companies supply most of the world's EV batteries (in Teslas, Mercedes, BMW, Jaguars, Ferraris etc.). They are a top designer, manufacturer and supplier of many parts to many vehicles and it's high-quality stuff. The Chinese are tech leaders in automotive these days, and it's the Western brands which are copying them, not the other way round..."

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6. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 21/05/2026 15:16

"The company does not matter, its whether F1 can see money out of it, agree with Max they are a big player in the automotive world, no better place than have your name affiliated with the pinnacle of motorsport."

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7. Posted by Max Noble, 21/05/2026 11:37

"@Workingchap - Brutal!!!! "

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8. Posted by Wokingchap, 21/05/2026 11:07

"@Max Noble..... would be fascinating if they make it to the grid, afterall that's 1 whole lap."

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9. Posted by Max Noble, 21/05/2026 6:07

"BYD sold over 54,000 cars here in Australia last year. They are storming the market. The Shark 6 Ute range topper is pushing towards Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux sales numbers, can tow 3.5T, and can scamper from 0-100kph in 5.5 seconds. It’s a 2L inline-4 turbo with hybrid bits.

They are a serious manufacturer that are probably set to follow Toyota, Hyundai and Kia into the realm of respectable car production.

Would be fascinating to see them on the grid!
"

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10. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 21/05/2026 2:54

"Yes, let a pure Chinese team into F1. That is, if they want to see how a "pink Mercedes" type scandal is really done, let the reigning world leaders of knock-offs show you. Any technical partner that saddles with BYD in F1 would be wise to worry that a country that has zero concept of copyrights have access to your stuff.

"We'll only evaluate a bid of great significance because I think we're already at a point with no more room, logistically, we're at the limit," I recall Doughnut-icali saying similar nonsense when Andretti/Cadillac wanted in and as it has inevitably been proven, he was indeed, full of sh*te then as he is now. There is absolutely room for a 12th team... just not a Chinese one."

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11. Posted by stackvideo, 21/05/2026 2:21

"It will probably fall apart due to rust after the first wet race."

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12. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 20/05/2026 20:16

"Would be a lot easier to be a title sponsor than team owner if all they want to do is flash their name around on race weekends."

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13. Posted by Chester, 20/05/2026 16:56

"Agree, KKK. BYD is a scourge to the worldwide auto industry, overproducing and then dumping at unreasonably low prices.

Do you want automotive variety, or a dominant Chinese market share? I know what I want."

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14. Posted by KKK, 20/05/2026 16:36

"Its what is called a "wet dream"

All that BYD want is to sell cheap fully electric cars, and Horner is not a good car salesman"

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15. Posted by Superbird70, 20/05/2026 14:31

"It would be interesting to see where BYD might base their F1 operations. I cannot see them based out of China."

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Horner linked with Chinese F1 hopeful BYD

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