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World's top automakers who could return to Formula 1 as the 12th team

After General Motors entered the iconic Formula 1 race in 2026 as the 11th team, many other automakers are aiming to return as the 12th team.

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Venkatakrishnan
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BMW F1

BMW F1 Photograph: (X)

F1 is the toughest motorsport in the world, and the margin for error is zero during races. Many iconic teams and championship winners left the sport because they couldn't achieve perfection. Teams like Lotus, Brabham, and Benetton left the sport when they didn't make race-winning cars.

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Last month, the FIA announced that the American car giant, General Motors, will join Formula 1 as the 11th team and will race from the 2026 season. They will enter the sport as Cadillac F1 partnering with Andretti. But now there are many speculations about a 12th Formula 1 team, and many big brands are in competition.

Also Read: Top 5 Worst Performing Drivers in F1 2024 season: Franco Colapinto makes the unfortunate list

Here are the Automakers who could be Formula 1's 12th Team

4. BMW 

The German Giant already competed in Formula 1 but withdrew at the end of the 2009 season. They also participated in the championship as a power unit supplier for many teams, but due to fierce competition, they left the sport. The brand is already participating in many other race competitions, like IMSA and WEC championships, under the Hypercar category. F1’s new regulations seem very welcoming to the brand, and they are on the list of brands that could return to F1 as the 12th team. 

Also Read: Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari honeymoon period is only six months

3. Genesis 

The luxury division of the legendary South Korean auto giant Hyundai, Genesis, could land a deal with Formula 1 and come as the 12th team. Every car brand has a luxury division to attract the premium class. GM has Cadillac, through which it will enter F1 in 2026; Ford has Lincoln; Honda has Acura; and Toyota has Lexus and Crown. Genesis recently entered the endurance championship as ‘Genesis Magma Racing'. They will compete in the hyperclass category at the IMSA series. They could also expand their legs into F1 racing soon.

Also Read: Top 5 Best Races of F1 2024: Lando's First Win vs. Verstappen's Rain Magic

2. Toyota

The world’s most trusted and iconic Japanese automaker, Toyota, already participated in Formula 1 a decade ago. But, due to stiff competition and financial struggle, the legendary brand left the championship. They are participating in endurance racing series like the 24h LeMans and have already won 5 championships. They have also announced a partnership with the American team Haas F1 and will provide technical resources and in return gain F1 knowledge from them. This is a good sign that Toyota aims for an F1 return in the next 5 years.

1. Ford

GM’s competitor Ford enters Formula 1 as a Power Unit supplier for Red Bull in the 2026 season. They are already involved in big competitions like NASCAR and WEC. GM entering the sport with Cadillac could have hurt its competitor, and very soon we could see Ford F1 cars driving fast against some of the iconic European F1 giants. Just like Honda, Ford could also bring their own drivers from the American continent and make them drive Red Bull cars.

Also Read: 2000 crore worth Formula 1 racetrack left abandoned like a Ghost town

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