FIA president advises Andretti to buy an existing F1 team
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has changed his stance on admitting Andretti Cadillac to Formula 1, advising Michael Andretti to "go and buy another team" instead of persisting with efforts to join as an 11th new entry for 2026.
Reversing stance on Andretti entry
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has advised Michael Andretti to purchase an existing Formula 1 team rather than continue pursuing plans to join the grid as an all-new 11th entry.
This marks a stark change from Ben Sulayem's previous stance, where he actively supported expanding the grid and admitting Andretti's proposed Cadillac-backed operation.
Prioritizing quality over quantity
Ben Sulayem's new position prioritizes having a strong, competitive field over increasing the number of teams.
"What is better? To have 11 teams as a number or 10 and they are strong?"
he questioned, adding,
"It's not about the number, it's about the quality."
Existing teams struggling
The FIA president cited concerns about some current teams grappling with performance and management issues, suggesting a refreshed approach might be preferable.
"Without mentioning names, there are teams which are struggling. Struggling with performance, struggling even with management,"
he stated.
Potential impacts of an Andretti entry
Acknowledging the potential benefits of an Andretti entry backed by General Motors, Ben Sulayem highlighted the positive impact it could have, especially in the crucial U.S. market.
"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,"
he remarked.
Aligning with F1 commercial rights holders
The reversal in stance could be an attempt to align with Formula 1's commercial rights holders, Liberty Media and FOM, amid ongoing negotiations for a new Concorde Agreement.
Ben Sulayem acknowledged the need for "much more clarity" between the governing body and commercial rights holders.
Andretti's continued push
Despite F1's rejection of their 2026 entry bid, Andretti has not backed down, pursuing legal avenues and involving U.S. lawmakers to challenge the decision on anti-trust grounds.
The aggressive push has not been well-received by F1 officials.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's reversal on supporting Andretti Cadillac's entry as a new team reflects a shift in priorities, favoring quality over quantity and aligning with F1's commercial rights holders.
While recognizing Andretti's potential impacts, Ben Sulayem now advises the American outfit to consider purchasing an existing team instead of persisting with efforts to join as a new entry for 2026.
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