Pentagon Blacklists BYD As Chinese Automaker’s F1 Ambitions Continue To Grow

Electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturer BYD has been added to the US Defence Department’s so-called “1260H list” of entities believed to have assisted the Chinese military.
The listing does not directly impose sanctions on BYD, though it does prohibit the US Defence Department from entering into any contracts with the company going forward.
BYD has been heavily linked with a potential Formula 1 entry in recent months, raising questions about whether the Pentagon designation could complicate those ambitions.
Despite Liberty Media being an American company, its deep involvement in China — including hosting the annual Chinese Grand Prix — suggests the blacklisting may not derail any F1 discussions.
BYD declined to comment when approached about the Pentagon’s decision, offering no official response to the development.
The company’s vice-president Stella Li met with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend as BYD explores its options in motorsport.
Li outlined the company’s dual motivation for pursuing an F1 connection, telling PlanetF1: “We are seeking any opportunity to see if BYD technology can help FIA, can help all other teams. Second ambition, as BYD, we also need to build a brand here. So this is the scope.”
Li also met with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner in Cannes, fuelling widespread speculation about his potential involvement in any future BYD motorsport project.
When asked about Horner, Li kept her comments brief and positive, stating simply: “Yeah, he is a great guy, a good friend, we like him.”
Horner is widely understood to be keen on returning to Formula 1 in some capacity following his departure from Red Bull earlier this season.
However, any BYD-related route back into the paddock would likely be a long-term project, given the enormous difficulty of establishing a new F1 team or acquiring an existing one amid soaring valuations.
The prospect of a 12th team joining the grid also looks remote for the foreseeable future, with Cadillac only having joined the championship in 2026 and some circuits lacking the infrastructure to accommodate a larger grid.
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