The last time Porsche was in Formula 1 (Footwork 1991)

Rumour has it Porsche are considering entering Formula 1 as an engine manufacture, depending what direction of the sport's next engine regulations will be in 2025. If it suits Porsche needs (be more greener), they may return to the grid by 2025.

So what is Porsche history with Formula 1. Porsche enter in the odd Grand Prixs' (mostly the German Grand Prix) between 1957 till 1960. Then in 1961, Porsche enter as a full-time constructor and finished third in the constructors' standings best finishes of multiple second place finishes. Then in 1962, Dan Gurney won the French Grand Prix with the Porsche 804, for Porsche only Grand Prix as a constructor. However, at the end of the 1962 season Porsche withdrew from Formula 1 despite outperforming Ferrari in 1962, because of high costs (VW didn't majority own them till 2011, so they were an independent car manufacture), focus more on sports-car racing, in particular Le Mans.

By late 1983, Porsche return to Formula 1 as an engine manufacture with McLaren to build them their 1.5 litre V6 Turbos. Badged as TAG engines between 1983-87, funded by TAG who retained the naming rights to it, there was another reason Porsche were reluctant to have their name on the engines, fearing bad publicity if they failed. That didn't happen at all, McLaren winning twenty-five Grand Prixs' for Niki Lauda (six wins) and Alain Prost (nineteen wins). A Drivers' Championships for Niki Lauda (1984) and two for Alain Prost (1985 and 1986). TAG engines took McLaren to two Constructors' Championships in 1984 and 1985.

By 1987, McLaren opted to swap over to Honda power for 1988, despite Porsche had a 3.5 litre V12 in the works for 1989. For McLaren it was the right option.

During 1990, Porsche shop around for a constructor to race their brand newish V12. Two options were Onyx and Arrows, Porsche opted for Arrows (re-branded as Footwork for 1991) team on a four year deal till the end of 1994.

However, the 3.5 litre V12 Porsche engine was basically new right, no. Due to Porsche wasn't that flush with money in 1991 it was two 1.5 litre V6 that was use during McLaren days merge into one V12 engine. During 1991 F1 season, the engine inside the footwork was too large, heavy, underpowered and unreliable inside the Footwork A11C and FA12. Resulting in five times they retired (mostly the engine fault) in the races while seven times they did not qualify for the races in the first six races between Footwork drivers Michele Alboreto, Alex Caffi and Stefan Johansson.

By Round seven at the French Grand Prix in July, the Footwork (Arrows) team had decided to abandon the disastrous Porsche V12 engines in favour of a return to Ford V8 engines for the rest of 1991 F1 season, while Porsche fix the problems. By Round fifteen at the Japanese Grand Prix in October, Porsche formally terminated its deal with the team, and the manufacture has not appeared in Formula One since.

Hopefully, if Porsche returns to Formula 1 in 2025 this time they will do a better job with a stronger budget to compete against the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes this time, if it happens.