Formula 1 should seek to expand to a 12-team grid, according to FIA President Jean Todt and championship CEO Chase Carey, but only if any potential newcomers can be competitive.
Formula 1’s grid size has fluctuated across the decades but has not featured 12 teams since the demise of HRT at the end of 2012.
Caterham’s exit after 2014 left Formula 1 with 10 teams for 2015 but Haas’ arrival the following year boosted numbers, albeit briefly, until Manor departed at the end of the same season.
Since 2017 the Formula 1 grid has remained static at 10 teams and, while a number of parties have registered an interest for 2021, the FIA has not opened a tender process.
“I would prefer to have 12 teams,” said Todt. “But then again I do sympathise with the teams, because if you have 12 teams of course it takes the value of their team.
“We have often teams willing to commit and sincerely we have never been convinced by the solidity of the teams, but I mean if we could be convinced it’s really a proper team really to join, myself, I would be quite happy to have 12 teams in Formula 1.
“I think that’s the proper number to hold the Formula 1 championship. Saying that with 10 teams it can work, if you have 10 good teams, competitive [teams], it can work.”
Carey added that Formula 1 officials want to ensure the championship can provide any new parties with a financially-secure platform before accepting entries.
“I think one of our key priorities is making owning a team, or making team ownership, a better business,” he said.
“Most of the people I’ve had preliminary conversations with want to see rules in place that provide the framework for a healthier business model.
“We want owning a team, like in other sports, to have a franchise value, as part of that we’ve talked about what is the process to enter a new team, and I think it supports that, how do we make owning a new team something that is a good business proposition not just a pursuit of passion.
“I think our priority, I think we’ve said before, is we want healthy teams, quality more than quantity, to me having an 11th team that sits at the back of the track is not adding for the fans what would improve the sport.
“I’d like to have an 11th team but I’d like to have an 11th team that is a competitive and healthy, and bring something to the sport.
“[And then] I’d rather 12 healthy team to 10 healthy teams but I don’t want 10 healthy teams and two struggling teams. 12 healthy teams is better than 10 teams.”
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