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- Volkswagen Revival in F1 after decades ago?
As F1 racers are stalling their engine on 2022 Formula 1 seasons with new driver dynamics and competitive battlefields, the German car marque probably making its comeback to the racing field after several decades.
Here’s a little info of VW group involvement in F1 journey back in the history, as per Bleacher Report.
Back in the middle 1920s, Bugatti triumphed three Italian Grand Prix and four French Grands straight from 1928 to 1931 apart from hosted other races. In 1956, Bugatti set its last F1 race at French Grand Prix, Reims with Maurice Trintignant behind the wheels of Bugatti T251.
The next car brand to get involve yet only the best part is when Sir Henry Birkin entered his Bentley Blower in the French Grand Prix at Pau back in the 1930s. The race died with Birkin while he was driving a Maserati due to being sick at Tripoli Grand Prix, three years later.
On the contrary, Audi supreme its success in the few championships after the mighty Auto Union squad competed Mercedes-Benz for grand prix supremacy in the 1930s. 30 years later, after its good season the company was purchased by Volkswagen maintaining Audi brand name.
As Porsche ended its ‘career’ in motorsport in the 90s, so what happened actually?
Porsche raced two seasons in the early 1960s and later had Gurney to win the first place at the French Grand Prix. Yet, after finishing fifth in 1962, Porsche retired from F1 at the end of the season.
As Porsche re-enter F1 as engine supplier to McLaren in the 80s, Prost won in his Porsche-powered McLaren MP4/2C. McLaren then took a turn by switching sides to Honda several years later.
The Footwork team powered by Porsche V12s tried to set its foot again in 1991. However, the team struggled in 1991 for qualification rounds and then switched to Ford engines.
Lamborghini on the other hand, offers V12 engines to a list of teams such as Larousse, Lotus, Ligier and Minardi which then after two years, the car marque departed from F1 and bought by VW in 1998.
This year in 2022, The Race reported both Porsche and Audi are said to join 2026 F1 entries withstanding speculation of its return in F1 motorsport.
As the official confirmation has not been declared by the press, Red Bull is already expected to connect the dot with Porsche on the 2026 technical planning, giving hints after the mega car brand depart of more than 30 years in motorsport.
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Jesica Sendai
from 9 to 5 grinder to 'racing' her way in the automotive industry through editorial work.