The president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who had initially supported theinput of an eleventh team in Formula 1, seems to have changed his mind and instead advised Andretti Cadillac to acquire an already existing team.
Andretti Ben Sulayem: “I would recommend going and buying another team”
Andretti Cadillac's bid to join as an eleventh team in 2025 or 2026 was rejected by commercial rights holders Liberty Media. However, the president of the FIA, Ben Sulayem, has always supported it the expansione of the F1 grid of 10 to 12 teams, evaluating the various applications with a test that only Andretti has passed. Although his opinion has not changed, Ben Sulayem is back on the Liberty Media line. That is, quality mattered more than quantity. Liberty Media, in fact, does not believe that Andretti's entry would add significant value to the category.
At the moment the championship is quite balanced at the top of the standings, but there are teams that are really struggling. Among all, Alpine has had a real collapse in the last three years, even risking having to sell. “Without naming names, there are teams that are struggling – admitted Ben Sulayem in Munich. They struggle with performance, they also struggle with management. So I would advise them (Andretti) to go and buy another team, not to come as the eleventh team. I think some teams need to renew themselves. What is better? Have 11 random teams just for the sheer number or 10 strong teams?”
“I still believe we should have more teams. But not just any teams. The right teams.”
Andretti and the obstacles and resistance towards the entrance
A radical change of position perhaps also the result of an attempt to make peace with FOM and Liberty Media given the tensions and conflicts of recent months mainly linked to issues of power. However, taking over a team is not that simple. Haas and Alpine, the most logical alternatives, have said they do not want to sell. Furthermore, Andretti is not that well liked by the F1 teams, due to his too much insistence. The latest controversy linked to his entry concerns a request from six American senators to launch an antitrust investigation against F1 due to its decision to reject Andretti's offer.
Source statements: Motorsport.com
