FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revised his view on Andretti Cadillac‘s entry into Formula 1. Initially a proponent of expanding the F1 grid, Ben Sulayem now recommends that Andretti “go and buy another team” instead of joining as a new entrant.
From Approval to Rejection
Andretti was the only applicant to successfully pass the FIA’s tender process for a potential 2026 entry. Despite this technical approval, Formula 1 management later rejected Andretti’s entry, citing concerns about its competitive value and overall contribution to the series.
Ben Sulayem’s Initial Expansion Vision
Last year, Ben Sulayem expressed his goal to increase the grid to 12 teams, aligning with the current contractual allowance. He aimed to include manufacturer teams from the US and China, a vision that conflicted with F1 management and Liberty Media, who prefer maintaining competitiveness and value over expanding the grid.
Now, in a recent interview with Reuters in Monaco, Ben Sulayem offered a different strategy for Andretti, suggesting they purchase an existing team. He believes that this route would be more beneficial for Andretti and its partner General Motors than attempting to join as an 11th team.
“I have no doubt FOM and Liberty would love to see other teams as long as they are OEMs,” he said. “I would advise [Andretti] to go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team.”
Ben Sulayem stressed the importance of having quality teams rather than simply increasing the number of teams. He believes that revitalizing existing teams would be more advantageous than adding new ones to the grid.
“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,” he explained.
Impact of Andretti-GM Partnership
Ben Sulayem remains supportive of the potential positive impact an Andretti-GM partnership could have on F1. He pointed out the challenges faced by some current teams and the potential boost from having a strong US manufacturer in the sport.
“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,” he commented.
Aligning with FOM and Liberty Media
This change in Ben Sulayem’s stance appears to be an effort to align with FOM and Liberty Media, particularly as discussions for a new Concorde Agreement, which will govern the commercial aspects of the series, approach. This agreement needs to be renewed before 2026.
“Peace is always good, you can’t have all the time unnecessary issues,” Ben Sulayem noted. “We both understand that we need to go forward and the only way to go forward is to have much more clarity between us.”
Future Prospects for Andretti
Despite the rejection, Andretti has not given up on its efforts to join F1 by 2026. The team has established a base in Silverstone, UK, and hired former F1 technical director Pat Symonds as a consultant. Additionally, they have engaged US lawmakers to challenge F1’s decision on legal grounds.
While F1 has indicated that Andretti could reapply for the 2028 season, the outcome of these ongoing efforts remains uncertain.
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