Porsche boss plays down F1 foray likelihood

Porsche’s new boss has played down speculation the marque might soon enter formula one.

In October, Matthias Mueller sparked the rumours by saying Volkswagen brands including Audi and Porsche would have a "round-table" to contemplate a F1 foray.

Porsche’s research and development boss Wolfgang Durheimer then said Porsche "can afford" to enter formula one "with its own team".

But in a new interview with Germany’s Westfalen Blatt newspaper, chief executive Mueller is now playing down that possibility.

"Formula one is a drivers’ world championship, with the focus on the sponsors and the manufacturers only secondary," he said.

"For us, this is a clear drawback.

"But if the VW Group was interested, then Porsche would surely be the brand that would work best for this," added Mueller.

After forays in the 50s and 60s, German marque Porsche supplied engines to McLaren in the 80s. Its most recent F1 project was the failed collaboration in 1991 with Arrows.