Formula 1 has always been the playground of the Western aristocracy. But now someone is knocking on the door who doesn't drink champagne, but green tea. BYD, the giant that made batteries yesterday, wants to get into F1. With the Yangwang U9 hypercar, they prove that they have technology that scares even the best. Buckle up, the world is changing - the BYD F1 is coming.
If someone had told me a few years ago that the Chinese carmaker, known for its affordable city cars, would be seriously considering Formula 1, I would have probably recommended a long break in a quiet room with soft rubber walls. But the world moves fast. According to reports in business media such as Bloomberg, Chinese giant BYD (Build Your Dreams) is actively exploring the possibility of entering the Formula 1 World Championship or the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Yes, you read that right. The company, which recently overtook Tesla in the number of electric vehicles sold, now wants to flex its muscles and win on Sunday afternoons with its own BYD F1 team.
It seems that the leadership of motor sport is not at all averse to the idea. The president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said some time ago: “For two years now, I have been dreaming of big countries having their presence in F1. The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer.” Of course, there is a small obstacle here – the astronomical costs. Entering the queen of motorsport can cost more than $500 million just for the entry fee and initial development. But for a huge electric corporation that controls the entire supply chain of its vehicles and batteries, this may not even be an insurmountable financial problem. This would catapult its brand into the ranks of the biggest players globally.
Yangwang U9: Proof that the Chinese are not bluffing
Yes BYD BYD F1 is dead serious about ultimate performance, as their new toy for the ultra-rich proves – the BYD Yangwang U9. If you thought the Chinese only knew how to make cloned family SUVs, you were sorely mistaken. This isn’t just another boring electric car with a big touchscreen. This is a purebred hypercar that literally pushes the boundaries of physics. When you look at it, it looks like a cross between a battleship and something a very angry Italian designer would draw in a fit of rage.
What lies beneath the aggressive carbon fiber bodywork is simply insane. It's powered by four independent electric motors, which together produce a staggering 960 kW (1,287 hp) of power and a massive 1,680 Nm (1,239 lb-ft) of torque. The result on the tarmac? Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes an absurd 2.36 seconds. If you don't tense your neck muscles during that start, you'll definitely need a visit to a good chiropractor. Top speed is officially rated at 309 km/h (192 mph), although recent testing has reportedly pushed it as high as a breakneck 375 km/h.
All of this is done by a car that, thanks to its batteries and technology, weighs a rather hefty 2,475 kilograms. Yes, it weighs almost as much as a small mountain, and with the help of a clever advanced DiSus-X suspension, it moves through corners with the grace of a ballerina. This technology is so advanced that the car can literally drive on three wheels if a tire blows out on the racetrack, or even “jump” with all four wheels in the air. Don’t ask me why they would do this, but apparently the Chinese love engineering drama. And let’s be honest – we all love drama!
A technological marvel with its own mega battery
With electric hypercars, the main question is always: “How far will I get and how long will I have to wait at the charging station?” BYD has used its famous Blade battery here, with the proven and safer LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry, which offers a capacity of an impressive 80 kWh. This gives it around 450 kilometers of range according to Chinese measurement standards, which in the real world is probably enough for a very quick trip to the coast and back. But the real surprise is the charging speed. The 800-volt architecture allows for an incredible charging speed of up to 500 kW. This means that you can charge a huge battery from 30 % to 80 % in just 10 minutes. Just enough time to drink a double espresso and try to calm your racing heart before your next wild ride.
With this car, BYD is sending a clear signal to the world: we know how to do much more than just smart, affordable cars for everyday use. We know how to make an exclusive monster that shamelessly stands up to names like Ferrari, Lamborghini and our neighbor Rimac. And it is precisely this in-depth technological know-how that could be directly transferred to Formula 1, where the new rules after 2026 will further increase the importance of the electric part of the hybrid powertrain.
Conclusion: Prepare for a new era – BYD F1
So what does all this mean for the future of motoring and global motorsport? Personally, I have long been stubbornly skeptical of new Chinese brands. Most of us, car romantics, grew up with the idea that real cars come from Germany, Great Britain or Italy, smelling of burning petrol and sounding like the thunder of ancient gods. But when you try out the innovations, or even just look at the technical numbers that the BYD Yangwang U9 puts on the table today, that old cynicism is incredibly difficult to maintain.
This incredible piece of technology costs around $236,000 in China (which is about a little over €215,000). For a car with almost 1,300 horsepower and the acceleration of a supercar, that’s a brutal “sell-out”. If such irrepressible enthusiasm and engineering drive ever makes it into the elite Formula 1 paddock, the traditional European teams will have a very big problem and a lot of sleepless nights. BYD may not have hundreds of years of racing heritage or posters in boys’ rooms right now, but they do have something much more dangerous – almost unlimited funds, cutting-edge technology and an immense desire to prove themselves to the world. And let’s be completely honest, modern Formula 1 is in dire need of some fresh and unpredictable drama. If this drama comes from the East with a soundtrack of soft electric hum, absurd acceleration, and huge budgets… well, I have to admit, I’ll be first in line to buy some popcorn and enjoy the show.
