F1 News: Andretti Cadillac Could Still Race Without FOM Approval - FIA President Ben Sulayem Clarifies

Mohammed Ben Sulayem stressed that the license to compete in Formula 1 is granted by the FIA.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed that Andretti Cadillac could still race in Formula 1 without the approval of Formula One Management. However, the new team would have to do away with the associated prize money in such a case. But the president was hopeful that the matter wouldn't reach a sorry state. 

Andretti Cadillac has been approved by the FIA to join the F1 grid. But, the challenge that lies ahead is to convince F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and commercial rights holder Liberty Media to welcome the new team officially, after a thorough financial analysis.

However, the existing team bosses and the F1 CEO are still against the idea of having an eleventh team in F1, with the matter reaching a point where F1 reportedly approached General Motors to axe its partnership with Andretti and join forces with an existing team on the grid. 

Andretti Press Image

The main problem of having an additional team for Formula 1, apart from operational and infrastructural challenges that can be solved, is the hesitance to share the revenue distribution prize money with an additional party. 

However, clearing the air, Ben Sulayem stated that even if the FOM doesn't approve Andretti Cadillac, it cannot stop them from competing in Formula 1. But he is hopeful that the matter won't reach that stage. Speaking to Speedcafe.com, he said:

“What I’ve heard from the legal side is that they [FOM] can say no to the financial [element].

"But the licence [to compete in F1] belongs to the FIA, so they [Andretti] would be running, but without getting any money, and I don’t think that would happen.

"For me, I am optimistic they [FOM] will not say no, but anything can happen. I just hope they don’t say no because it is so good for business, so good to sustain motorsport.”

Mystery For Micheal Andretti

Talking about the stern opposition from the existing F1 teams, the Chairman and CEO of Andretti Autosport Michael Andretti said it was a mystery to him. He told Sky Sports F1:

“It’s a mystery to me in some ways, why they’re pushing back.

"You know, they say we’re slicing the pie, but I think the point is hopefully we bring in more than what we’re taking away, and we really believe that.

"I think if you look at the fan support and on all the surveys that have been done and things [like] that, we think that we’re going to add to it, not take away.”

Andretti Cadillac is currently gearing up to join the Formula 1 grid in 2025 or 2026. The plan is to run an American rookie driver alongside an experienced F1 driver.