Former Red Bull boss linked with new team following meetings with the Vice President of Chinese EV giant BYD.

The Chinese company has been linked with a potential F1 entry for some months now, ironically at a time the sport appears to be having second thoughts about the amount of electric energy to be used, moving away from the original 50/50 split.

Horner had been linked with a buy-in at Alpine, however the French team has now attracted the intertest of Mercedes, despite warnings from Zak Brown over 'B-teams'.

From the time it was first linked with F1, BYD has made it clear that rather than buying an existing team, it wishes to enter the sport as a twelfth outfit.

It's understood that Horner, who was in Cannes last weekend, was a guest of BYD, and it is there that he met with the company's vice president, Stella Li.

Understandably, nobody is saying anything, but in Shanghai, Li revealed that exploratory talks had taken place with FOM.

"We are always in close contact," she said. "I like Formula 1 because it's about passion and culture, and people dream of being in Formula 1."

Asked about her comments, Mohammed ben Sulayen, referring to Formula One Management (FOM) said: "If there is a Chinese bid, I will speak on behalf of them, they will agree to that, because it is about sustaining the business."

However, FOM CEO, Stefano Domenicali was quick to pour cold water on the speculation.

"We'll only evaluate a bid of great significance because I think we're already at a point with no more room, logistically, we're at the limit," he insisted.

However, at a time there already appears to be a 'tussle' between FOM and the FIA on the horizon over the return to V8 engines, and Ben Sulayem's claim of total autonomy, it should be remembered that last year the Emirati was clearly in favour of the Chinese bid.

"If there is a team from China, let's say, and FOM approved it, and I am 100 percent they will approve it, wouldn't it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes," he told reporters. "The time will come when we feel it right to open an Expression of Interest.

"We are not here to upset the other teams," he added, "but it won't be just for the sake of doing it. It has to be worth it. "For us, the 12th team has to add value to sustaining the business of Formula 1, and the business of Formula 1 is not about the income, it's about the longevity of the championship itself."

"The business of Formula 1 is not about the income?" Try telling that to Mr Sold Out.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Chester, 3 hours ago

"Agree, KKK. BYD is a scourge to the worldwide auto industry, overproducing and then dumping at unreasonably low prices.

Do you want automotive variety, or a dominant Chinese market share? I know what I want."

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2. Posted by KKK, 3 hours ago

"Its what is called a "wet dream"

All that BYD want is to sell cheap fully electric cars, and Horner is not a good car salesman"

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3. Posted by Superbird70, 5 hours ago

"It would be interesting to see where BYD might base their F1 operations. I cannot see them based out of China."

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4. Posted by kenji, 7 hours ago

"It certainly seems odd that a company built on EV's seeks to enter a likely future ICE dominated series! Does it indicate an expansion into hybrids seeing as European and other manu's seem headed in this direction. That would make more sense besides making a global statement on the 'rise and rise' of the Empire."

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5. Posted by Wokingchap, 8 hours ago

"It smells bad to me."

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Horner linked with Chinese F1 hopeful BYD

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