The year 2023 has proved to be a tricky phase for the FIA, with the massive task of trying to bring the entire Formula 1 community to follow their game plan. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, recently waved the green flag for Andretti Global to join F1, and all they now require is approval from the Formula 1 Group, which is inarguably going to be the toughest step of Andretti’s journey so far.
Why you might ask? While the FIA has been nothing but supportive of welcoming an eleventh team onto the grid, a majority of the running teams have only shown disagreement with the international governing body. The likes of Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have often opined that any new-joining team must pay a hefty sum of money as an entry fee ahead of their debut.
Andretti and Formula 1’s statements on Andretti’s application to join the grid as an 11th team 📝 pic.twitter.com/vMJtXEJUkh
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 6, 2023
Quite recently, Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Aston Martin, posted a rather straightforward video of himself addressing the latest debate going on between the FIA and F1 teams. And by the looks of it, Stroll Sr. looked anything but happy with the idea of inviting a new team and instead reckoned that F1 must continue with 10 teams.
Hence, amidst such ever-rising opposition, here’s what Ben Sulayem had to say.
Ben Sulayem demands F1 teams to follow FIA’s goal
Ben Sulayem reckoned that Formula 1 must have fewer races and more teams, not the other way around, consequently, acknowledging F1’s wrong direction in terms of growth. “Saying no to a team which has been approved by the FIA – it’s very hard,” Ben Sulayem said. “The FIA should be asking, begging, OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to come in. We should not just say no to them.
Formula 1 should have more teams and fewer races, according to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Saying no to a team which has been approved by the FIA – it’s very hard,” said Ben Sulayem
“The FIA should be asking, begging, OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to come in.… pic.twitter.com/4OjfsJKg9v
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 9, 2023
“If you say: ‘What is my dream?’ It is to fill up the 12 [team slots] and to have one US team from an OEM and a [power unit] and a driver from there. And then go to China maybe and ask for the same thing and do it. The circuits are supposed to have enough garages and space for 12 teams. I think the number of races is too much [rather] than the number of teams. We need more teams and fewer races.
“The teams are looking at the piece of cake. I understand their worries… but our worries are different.” Overall, Sulayem does have a point, but, the question is, will the teams acknowledge it? Or will the echoes of opposition continue to grow in the coming weeks?