Sports Cycle

The Volkswagen Group is considering the future of Formula 1 entry

The Volkswagen Group, the second biggest car maker in the world, are conducting a feasibility study into a potential Formula one entry.

Sources say the review is being done by former Ferrari chief Stefano continued studying, hired by VW'S Audi brand earlier this year.
Interest was piqued by a global marketing success achieved by rivals and the new Mercedes F1 champion.

But each entry would depend on the management changes at VW or F1.

Ferdinand Piech, head of VW Group Board of Trustees, and F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone has long had a difficult relationship.

At least one of them will have to leave their current positions before the VW brand Group could enter F1.

VW is in the Working Group of the automaker decided a new hybrid turbo engine rules introduced to F1 this season, but decided to go at that time – and, in General, do not change the attitude since.

But the source said that several senior Board members who now believes F1 will become a global promotional tools more effective than motorsport program in existence.

Among the brands Volkswagen Audi Group, as well as VW and Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti's, Bentley, Skoda and Seat.

VAG currently has three major Motorsports program – with Audi and Porsche in the World Endurance Championship, Audi in Germany Touring Car Championship (DTM) and Volkswagen in the World Rally Championship.

The value of global advertising television appearances of Mercedes ' formula one during the campaign by 2014 is $ 2.8 bn (£ 1.8 billion).

Experts believe that a value equivalent to VAG and touring sports car program they are around $ 30 million (£ 19 m).

Mercedes spent euro net 130 m (£ 103M) in formula one, sponsors and prize money after the external counts. VAG spend around 320m euros (£ 254m) in DTM and sportscars.

Some reports have linked back with Austria team VAG potential Red Bull-Piech has a close relationship with owner Dietrich Mateschitz's Red Bull.

But sources say that VAG rejected approaches from Red Bull a few years ago and that if it entered F1 with his own team will be based in Germany.
Lewis Hamilton

Asked for comment, the spokesman did not deny the information but pointed to an interview with the Chairman of the Board Martin Winterkorn VW management in the Germany newspaper Bild Am Sonntag last month, in which he suggested the Group was happy with the existing commitments.

Winterkorn said: "our brand in motorsport was as successful as ever, both in the DTM with the Audi or Le Mans with Audi and Porsche, or in the World Rally Championship with the Volkswagen we felt we have a position that is really good.".

Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler said in an interview with Germany's other newspapers, Heilbronner Stimmer, that have expressed a desire for continued studying doesn't work in motorsport and that he was working on "new businesses and organizations in the field of services and mobility".