FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has advised Andretti-Cadillac to purchase an existing squad as it continues to press on with its attempts to enter Formula 1.
The FIA accepted Andretti’s proposal last October, but Formula One Management (FOM) elected not to grant the American team the green light in either 2025 or ’26.
FOM cast doubt on the value Andretti would add to F1, but it will consider an application for 2028 on the proviso that General Motors comes in as an engine supplier.
Those views were at odds with Ben Sulayem, who opened up a tender process last term on the basis that the current terms permit that F1 can allow “up to 12 teams”.
But with F1 remaining unmoved, Ben Sulayem has since changed his stance and has urged Andretti to explore whether it can acquire one of the 10 incumbent teams.
“I have no doubt FOM and Liberty would love to see other teams as long as they are OEMs,” he told Reuters in Monaco.
“I would advise [Andretti] to go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team.
“I feel that some teams need to be refreshed. What is better? To have 11 teams as a number or 10 and they are strong?
“I still believe we should have more teams but not any teams. The right teams. It’s not about the number, it’s about the quality.”
Ben Sulayem maintained that he was still interested in seeing an authentic American operation be admitted, citing his conviction that it would be a boost to the series.
“Without mentioning names, there are teams which are struggling. Struggling with performance, struggling even with management,” he noted.
“It’s about having the right team, not to lose a chance or an opportunity where someone like GM with a PU is coming to Formula 1.
“Imagine the impact. We have three races in America. We have such a huge fan base. But we don’t have a proper [US] team.
“I’m so happy to have Ford in [with Red Bull] but imagine having GM and imagine having [more] American drivers.”
The FIA and F1 announced earlier this month that a “new strategic plan” was being created to benefit the sport amid recent hostilities between the respective parties.
“Peace is always good, you can’t have all the time unnecessary issues,” Ben Sulayem explained.
“We both understand that we need to go forward and the only way to go forward is to have much more clarity between us.
“We are with FOM when it comes to business. We are partners and we have to also forget the small things and find a solution how can we address these issues.”
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