FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes Formula 1 needs “more teams and fewer races,” amid concerns over whether the proposed Andretti bid will be accepted by the sport.
Andretti – owned by ex-IndyCar Champion and former F1 driver Michael Andretti and backed by General Motors brand Cadillac – was the only prospective F1 team bid to pass the FIA’s approval, with the matter of approving the American team’s entry now in the hands of Liberty Media/FOM.
Concerns have emanated from the current 10 teams on the grid, with talk that the anti-dilution fee of $200 million in the current Concorde Agreement is too low for a new entry.
The teams have persistently pointed out how the value of the current sides and the entire sport has risen dramatically across the past few years.
What’s more, next year will feature a record 24-race calendar, two more than the current record 22 races being run in 2023.
“The circuits are supposed to have enough garages and space for 12 teams…I think the number of races is too much (rather) than the number of teams,” Ben Sulayem told Reuters in Qatar.
“The teams are looking at the piece of cake. I understand their worries…but our worries are different.”
Whilst there is a possibility of Andretti competing in F1 without the approval of FOM, thus racing without a commercial agreement, Ben Sulayem has said “We hope not. But it could happen.
“The FIA should be asking, begging, OEMs (car manufacturers) to come in. We should not just say no to them,” he continued.
“If you say what is my dream, it is to fill up the 12 (slots) and to have one U.S. team from an OEM and a PU (power unit) and a driver from there driving.
“And then go to China maybe and ask for the same thing and do it.”
Some chatter within the paddock has called for Andretti to simply buy its way in by taking over an existing entry, in a similar fashion to Audi’s impending takeover of Sauber.
However, Ben Sulayem has also dismissed the validity of this approach.
“You cannot force Andretti/GM to buy another team just because they want to sell,” he added.
“I won’t mention names but they were after me to go on and convince GM to do that. It’s not my job. I was not elected to do that. I am not a broker.”
Both points put forward by Ben Sulayem are extremely relevant in F1 at the present moment, with extended calendars leading to concerns of staff burnout and fans losing interest amid an early title resolution (Max Verstappen’s third title having been wrapped up with five rounds to spare).
The impending proposal of a new team has only led to a potential dispute opening up between FOM and the FIA.
Ben Sulayem was keen to outline that there is no such struggle between the governing body of world motorsport and F1 but elected to define the FIA as the primary custodian of the sport.
“We are not a service provider,” he said. “We own the championship.
“We leased it, we are the landlord. So that has to be respected also.
“My intention was never to embarrass or to put someone in a corner, Liberty or FOM (Formula One Management). I am here for the spirit of the sport.”
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