Volkswagen not interested in F1 move

Volkswagen Motorsport boss Wolfgang Durheimer has ruled out moving into Formula One due to ongoing concerns over ownership and technical regulations.

The German manufacturer had been linked with the sport last year as Red Bull's struggles with Renault cast doubt over the team's future.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner admitted in 2015 that there had been discussions with VW about replacing Renault as engine supplier.

However, nothing came of those talks and Durheimer does not expect VW to move into F1 unless there are serious changes within the sport.

"Formula One is not on our agenda right now," he told Autocar. "The situation is not predictable enough to make the kind of investment required.

"On the regulations front, there are a lot of rumours around the engine side and the supporting technology side.

"Before you commit the kind of money needed you must see five years of rules stability - there can't be the possibility of rules changes, of more or less engine cylinders coming in, or the hybrid system changing away from technology you are developing on road cars.

"On the ownership side, there are also big questions the sport must answer. If you are a big business making a big investment you expect to have some influence on the set-up, with an assurance the present ownership will last.

"In F1, it seems the owners will not be there forever and that creates some instability."