Formula E unmoved as BYDâs Formula 1 interest intensifies
Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds has insisted he would not be frustrated if BYD pursued a move into Formula 1, despite the Chinese manufacturer having previously appeared firmly aligned with a potential entry into the all-electric championship.
BYD has been of sustained interest to Formula E, with the series eager to add a Chinese manufacturer to its grid. For a period, the company looked like the most obvious candidate, helped by regular discussions and activations around the Mexico City E-Prix race week earlier this year.
BYDâs motorsport direction becomes less clear
That picture has shifted in recent months. BYD vice president Stella Li has held exploratory talks with F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali and was also present at the Monaco Grand Prix. A meeting has also taken place with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, before Horner attended Formula Eâs two races in the Principality last month.
Those developments have placed Formula 1 more prominently on BYDâs radar, even if Formula E remains a logical destination for a manufacturer built around electric vehicles. The timing is particularly relevant as Formula E continues its Chinese push, with the Sanya E-Prix followed by the Shanghai E-Prix. For more on the championshipâs current return to China, read our guide to the 2026 Sanya E-Prix schedule and start time.
Asked whether BYD choosing F1 would be frustrating for Formula E, Dodds was blunt in his response.
âI only ever get frustrated by things I'm in control of, and that [BYD joining Formula E] is not something I'm in control of,â Dodds told RacingNews365. âSo, no. If BYD went into motorsport properly and committed to it, and if they wanted to go into F1, I think it would actually be quite logical for them to be in both, because then they would have an all-electric programme as well.â
Dodds added that any Formula 1 route would likely be a long-term process, stressing: âBut no, if they wanted to go into F1, I suspect that's a long road anyway. So, no, it's not frustrating.â
Formula E still wants a Chinese manufacturer
China remains a strategically important market for Formula E, and Dodds made clear that BYD is not the championshipâs only route into the countryâs fast-growing EV sector.
âI think there should be a Chinese manufacturer in the championship,â he said. âI think that's very logical.â
He pointed to the broader strength of Chinaâs electric vehicle industry, naming Xiaomi and the Geely Group among the companies generating attention.
âBYD aren't the only Chinese manufacturer,â Dodds added. âSo I don't think they're the only Chinese manufacturer in town, but I think it makes sense for there to be a Chinese manufacturer.â
The challenge, as Dodds noted, is not simply entering motorsport but becoming competitive quickly. For Formula E, the priority is clear: securing Chinese manufacturer involvement remains a major objective, whether that ultimately means BYD or another marque entirely.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.