These are Porsche's conditions for an F1 return

The announcement wasn't entirely a surprise. For months there have been rumours that Porsche wants to make its comeback in Formula 1. It is now known that a decision might be made this month. A 'yes' will depend on several conditions set by the Volkswagen Group brand.

Avoiding fiasco

Although Porsche occasionally won races in Formula 1 in the distant past, the presence never became a resounding success. In order to prevent a fiasco - both financially and sporting - the director of Porsche makes three demands in an interview with The Race three requirements. First of all, there is the cost. “If you look at PR values, at fanbase, at advertising value, Formula 1 is extremely good compared to other series,” Thomas Laudenbach said. “That’s no question about it. At the same time, you have to spend a lot of money. So I think another point is that cost control is in place. Probably the most important thing that I would say for a car manufacturer need to be fulfilled, that it really makes sense to enter.”

Porsche is currently active in Formula E. “If you look what car manufacturers are announcing concerning the share of electric vehicles they’re going to sell in the future, it is very important that Formula 1 does a shift towards electrification,” Laudenbach continued. “Yes, it is clear you can’t do such a format with a battery electric vehicle. We all know that. But I think there needs to be a much higher priority of the electric part of the powertrain.As an OEM you want to show yourself in motorsport, it needs to be relevant to what happens on the road. The FIA made a huge step towards that direction. So that’s going to help."

A level playing field

One final obstacle Laudenbach sees for Porsche is the current regulations in Formula 1. Teams and engine suppliers would have a huge head start on how to implement them into their designs. For Porsche, it is virtually impossible to start on the same level. That's why Laudenbach wants an equal playing field. "If somebody – and this has got nothing to do with Porsche, I think that’s a general thing – really thinks about entering this championship as a power unit manufacturer, you should always combine that with a major change in the rules, so that everybody has got to make a step, you are not the only one that has to."