F1 News: FIA President Reveals Big Expansion Plans For Formula One

Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to add more teams in F1, particularly constructors.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed a desire that the existing Formula 1 teams would dread. The governing body head revealed his goal to add more teams to Formula 1, particularly from China and the USA. 

Currently, the Formula 1 rules suggest that up to 12 teams can be a part of the sport. With 10 slots already occupied, Ben Sulayem ticked the 11th spot off the list last year, after clearing American outfit Andretti Cadillac to join the sport. 

Now though, the ball lays in the FOM's court to conduct necessary financial checks on the new team which is a collaboration between Andretti Autosport and automotive giant General Motors. 

However, Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, and the team principals of the ten existing teams are against the idea of having more teams on the grid since they would have to share the prize money with an additional player, apart from other reasons that pertain to infrastructural challenges. 

But the FIA president is on a mission to fill the F1 tub to the brim. Andretti Cadillac registered itself as an engine supplier a few months ago, and thus, it will begin supplying its F1 engines in 2028. 

New Team From China?

Looking to add more manufacturers in Formula 1, Ben Sulayem's next addition to the sport could be a team from China. Revealing his goals, he told Motorsport Magazin:

“If you ask me what my goal or dream is, I’ll say: A full US team with one driver and a full China team with one driver.

“Then I would speak of global. And then I would say that my mission is on the right track. I’m talking about manufacturers.

“Small teams come and go. When they see profit, they sell their team. The manufacturers are there to fill in the gaps as they leave. You also have to strike a balance between quality and quantity.”

Stressing the importance of having manufacturer teams as they are more stable when compared to private teams, the FIA president added:

“Power unit manufacturers are very important.

“We will have six in 2026!

“If you have that, then the private teams also have a better choice. Then they won’t be manipulated by one or two manufacturers when it comes to the Formula 1 commission.

“Then it doesn’t say: I’ll give you the engine, you have to say this or that. And the price will also fall as a result. Manufacturers are here to stay. They have a plan and they follow through with it.

“Manufacturers bring us technology and innovation. I know that we are not completely committed to electrification. Firstly, because our engine is the most efficient engine in the world.

“The power unit isn’t just about the engine, it’s about other things. As you said: about sustainable fuels. We will use less gasoline. We are removing the MGU-H, but we have the MGU-K, it will be a full hybrid.

“And then we have even better aerodynamics. It will be a better result, we are aiming for an 80 percent improvement. 80! And that has a lot to do with aerodynamics.”

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