Why Porsche Left F1: The Legend of the TAG-Turbo

Porsche left a lasting mark in F1 and always knew how to challenge the big teams, but their last appearance on the grid was over 35 years ago.

What inspired me to write this story is that Porsche came close to returning to F1 with Red Bull, but the deal fell through, and I wanted to explore their journey in the sport’s past.

The turbo era in F1 was incredible, featuring manufacturers that are household names on our streets today, like BMW, Porsche, and several others.

Porsche F1 History

Their journey is marked by two contrasting chapters, the legendary TAG-Turbo V6 of the mid-1980s, which reshaped engine philosophy, and the ill-fated 3512 V12 of 1991, partnering Footwork at the time.

The turbo era was notoriously complex. While BMW introduced a turbo engine that reached 1,400 horsepower in the mid-1980s, Porsche was already planning to take on all these manufacturers, and they succeeded.

The TAG-Turbo Revolution

Partnering with McLaren; when everything changed.

Backed by TAG; together they created a 1.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine.

Unlike BMW brute-force engine, Porsche unit focused on reliability rather than maximum qualifying power.

They prioritized consistent performance over a full race distance, which allowed the driver to exploit strategy and fewer pit stops for victory.

What seemed interesting to me is that the TTE P01 engine also relied on smart technology. It used the Bosch Motronic electronic management system, which controlled fuel and ignition much more precisely, and this helped the engine remain reliable over a full race distance.

The result was dominant, winning three championships in a row; from 1984 to 1986.

NOTE: They left a mark on road cars also, the company used a 930 turbo as a test platform for this engine, an idea later revived by Lanzante, which fitted original 1980s F1 engines into street-legal 911s..

The 1991 Return and the 3512 Disaster

They attempted a comeback in 1991 with the Footwork Arrows team, with the only aim, to repeat the success of the ’80s.

Instead the project became a cautionary tale; this time they produced the 3512 V12, it was essentially two TAG-Turbo V6s combined, but it created overweight, and it was not as powerful they expected.

What I found interesting is that the engine was unusual because it was essentially two 80-degree V6 engines joined together, which made the engine very large and heavy.

At 190kg, compared to the rivals like Ferrari engines 140kg; it changed the game and it was impossible to fit neatly into the FA12 chassis.

This forced the team to begin the season with an older, modified car, undermining any chance of competitiveness.

The project of V12 engine in 1991 failed, they abandoned a promising V10 project for 1992, which was later adapted for an aborted Le Mans effort before finally powering the legendary Porsche Carrera GT Road car.

Early F1 Forays: 1950s to 1960s

Long before turbocharged glory; they made tentative entries in F1.

So in ’50s, the company had no dedicated F1 car, relying instead on modified F2 and sports cars to compete in select Grand Prix events.

For example, 718 RSK, was a two-seater sports car with a covered passenger seat, repurposed for racing; and Porsche first official constructor entry came at the German GP in 1957, though these early efforts were exploratory rather than championship-focused.

In the ’60s they had another attempt in F1; Porsche 804 in 1962, featured a 1.5-liter air-cooled flat-eight engine, driven by Dan Gurney, it claimed Porsche’s only victory as a chassis and engine manufacturer at the French GP in 1962.

Despite this success; the team withdrew from F1 at the end of the year, citing high costs of F1 compared to their sportscar program.

The 1970s: Focus Shifts Away from F1

During the 1970s, Porsche did not compete in F1.

They turned focus toward endurance racing, developing the iconic 917 and 935, while also investing in road car innovation with models such as the Porsche 911 Turbo and the 928.

What made me wonder is that the 5.7-liter V10 in the Porsche Carrera GT actually comes from a F1 project that never raced. After the failed V12, Porsche developed a new V10 meant to replace it at Footwork, but the plan was canceled. Years later, that unused F1 engine concept evolved into the heart of the Carrera GT, so the project was to use 3.5-liter engine for F1; but 5.7-liter version came much later.

Porsche Red Bull Deal – Near Misses and the Modern Era

Porsche almost returned to F1 under the 2026 engine regulations, planning a 50-50 partnership with Red Bull Racing.

But the negotiations collapsed in 2022. While a full-fledged F1 return remains elusive, Porsche’s triumph and cautionary lessons, continues to captivate motorsport enthusiasts worldwide.

FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Morio / CC BY-SA 4.0 – 3512 F1 engine, Prototyp Museum (2019) via Wikimedia Commons