LONDON, England - BMW and Ford could each be eyeing a return to Formula 1.
The BMW rumour was triggered by comments made by former F1 team owner and boss GianCarlo Minardi, who said the revolutionary new turbo V6 rules were devised not just by current F1 suppliers Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.
Minardi said on his website: "Rumours in Germany suggest BMW's board of directors will meet in May to evaluate a return to the top category as an engine supplier as early as 2015."
BMW COMEBACK?
He said BMW officials were present during winter testing and the early races of the new 2014 rules.
The return of BMW, having withdrawn its works partnership with the Sauber team at the end of 2009, would be good news for F1's controversial new engine rules, as the Japanese marque Honda is also coming back to the sport in 2015.
BMW has repeatedly rejected any suggestion of a return to F1, having instead entered the German Touring Cars.
BMW spokesman Jorg Kottmeier told Speed Week: "Our focus has not changed. F1 is not a topic for us as we are very happy in production car racing."
Elsewhere, Racecar Engineering reports that Gene Haas' new team for 2015 could be powered by Ford-branded Cosworth engines.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
The BMW rumour was triggered by comments made by former F1 team owner and boss GianCarlo Minardi, who said the revolutionary new turbo V6 rules were devised not just by current F1 suppliers Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.
Minardi said on his website: "Rumours in Germany suggest BMW's board of directors will meet in May to evaluate a return to the top category as an engine supplier as early as 2015."
BMW COMEBACK?
He said BMW officials were present during winter testing and the early races of the new 2014 rules.
The return of BMW, having withdrawn its works partnership with the Sauber team at the end of 2009, would be good news for F1's controversial new engine rules, as the Japanese marque Honda is also coming back to the sport in 2015.
BMW has repeatedly rejected any suggestion of a return to F1, having instead entered the German Touring Cars.
BMW spokesman Jorg Kottmeier told Speed Week: "Our focus has not changed. F1 is not a topic for us as we are very happy in production car racing."
Elsewhere, Racecar Engineering reports that Gene Haas' new team for 2015 could be powered by Ford-branded Cosworth engines.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.