FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes Formula 1 should expand to 12 teams as it has the capacity to do so, asking, “Why not?”
In January, F1 rejected Michael Andretti’s bid to join the series in 2026, but a U-turn was made when the American stepped aside to let General Motors take a stronger position over the prospective entry.
Last week it was confirmed that General Motors will have a registered power unit by 2028 and its Cadillac brand will be on the grid in 2026 having agreed in principle with F1.
But with the rules permitting a grid expansion not just to 11 teams, but 12, Ben Sulayem is very much open to pushing the envelope.
“Why not?,” Ben Sulayem told Reuters regarding the prospect of a 12th team on the F1 grid.
“It’s about doing the right thing. So why do we have an option of 12 if we are going to say no, no, no?
“With me it is very clear it is a win for everyone with the 11th team.”
F1 needed an OEM, not just an extra team
In September, Michael Andretti stepped aside from running his eponymous Andretti Global enterprise and handed the reins over to Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Global’s motorsport business.
Towriss and General Motors convinced F1 that its team would be valuable to the sport, which was the biggest hurdle Andretti failed to overcome, by being a fully works entry.
Ben Sulayem, who with the FIA put forward the Andretti bid for consideration ahead of the likes of Rodin and Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes’ junior outfit Hitech, said that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the sport needed more than just an 11th team.
“[Domenicali] said ‘we need an OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer], not just an extra team’,” Ben Sulayem explained.
“So they disappeared for a few months and they came back with an OEM.
“So they came up with a power unit. They ticked the boxes there. And we couldn’t say any more no to them.”
FIA President had ‘nothing to hide’ in U.S. DOJ F1 probe
Another factor in the General Motors bid succeeding was a probe by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over whether F1 was acting in an “anticompetitive” rejecting Andretti.
It’s said that F1 was getting itchy feet and sought to quash any investigation and subsequent ruling before it could gather steam.
Ben Sulayem, meanwhile, was perfectly happy to be interviewed amid the DOJ’s probe.
“I had a meeting with them and I was questioned,” he revealed.
“I have nothing to hide. I’m an elected president, you know … based on governance and democracy and transparency.
“So we did what the FIA did. And I am proud of what the team did.”
READ MORE – Mohammed Ben Sulayem says FIA is ‘none of the F1 drivers business’
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