F1: Team bosses still want to keep F1 a closed-boys club

–by Mark Cipolloni–

In Friday’s press conference among several key team principals in Miami Beach, the topic came up about adding an 11th or possibly 12th F1 team.

Andretti Global and four other potential candidates must have their final proposals in to the FIA by May 15th, and it’s clear the existing team bosses want to keep F1 a closed-boys club.

One issue that was raised by Christian Horner in Miami was the fact that some circuits do not have enough paddock space for more F1 teams. Those circuits would have to spend money to upgrade their garages and/or paddock area.

Horner says tracks like Miami (above) cannot fit any more teams in the paddock. Team paddock has been moved inside the Miami Dolphins stadium this year

Red Bull boss Christian Horner seemed reluctant, “The issues remain the same as 12 months ago, both fiscally—what is the incentive for an existing team or franchise to accept an 11th entrant—and then ultimately, who pays? I mean, if it dilutes the income of the 10, it’s like turkeys voting for Christmas. Why would they do that? You know, are Liberty prepared to pay and fund an 11th team, are the FIA prepared to reduce their fees to help accommodate it?

“Look, Formula 1 is in fantastic health at the moment, you can see Formula 1 is flying… Formula 1 has never been in a stronger position. I think Liberty have done a great job with the sport. We’re seeing new markets, new growth, new fans, and a new demographic of fans.

“But I think longevity is in the best interest of everybody, to have a settled sport that has a clear direction for the future, of what its goals and objectives are, together with the Technical Regulations and Sporting Regulations and Financial Regulations that we want to develop for the future, to just continue to make the sport better and more appealing and more inclusive, over the coming years.”

“It’s very difficult in Formula 1 to perform,” Toto Wolff said. “It has taken us many years to be where we are. We’ve gone through really difficult times where Formula 1 wasn’t the blockbuster it is today, and therefore, whoever enters the sport, I think it would be beneficial for all of us if they can really bring something new to the show, if it can help us to increase our audiences or if there is lots of marketing dollars that are being invested, similar to what we have done over the years.

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff talk in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 05, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

“Red Bull and Mercedes, sitting here, I mean, hundreds of millions. And if that were the case, I think we need to be all open-minded and say how can we contribute to making that happen? But again, we’re not part of the governance. And so I would very much hope that we find someone, if we decided to go for another team, that somebody can really leverage what we have today and make it even greater.”

“If the entire sport can be better off by adding teams, that’s what we should be looking at doing,” Alpine’s Otmar Szafnauer said. “Right now we have 10 teams, and if we can reel one in (the 11th), there’s 10 of us competing almost at the same level (and one moving chicane backmarker) and I think that’s good for the fans.

Otmar Szafnauer – “The cost cap has helped, better distribution of the income has helped, the fact that the sport is on an ascendancy means we get more sponsorship too and with all that having 10 healthy teams is great for the sport.

“We haven’t had that in recent years in Formula 1 and the cost cap has helped, better distribution of the income has helped. The fact that the sport is on the ascendancy means we get more sponsorship too and with all that, having 10 healthy teams is great for the sport. If we had more than 10, and it becomes a little bit less healthy, maybe that’s not so good. But that’s not for us, or not for me to say. So for me, it’s whatever optimizes the entire sport, whatever that number is.”

McLaren principal Zak Brown added , “As long as they are additive to our sport, I’d love to see more cars on the grid. I think it’s exciting. I remember when I started following Formula 1, you had pre-qualifying, I think there were 30-31 cars trying to show up to make the show. So I think an increase in the grid of the right teams that bring the right resources and are additive to what we’re all trying to do and help grow the sport, then I’m all for it.

“Really the only credible, sustainable team that I’ve seen in the last decade is Guenther’s (Steiner of Haas Racing). And so what we do need to make sure is if someone enters that they really have the commitment and can do what it takes. Because in my experience, I think in a variety of motor sports, you do see a lot of dreamers. What we don’t need with the health of the sport is a team coming in underestimating what it’s going to take and two years later, they’re gone. So you know, hats off to, to Haas for the commitment they’ve made and continue to make to the sport, so we need more teams like that.”

“If we got more teams, there needs to be an upside for the 10 which are here, and then I think nobody will have anything against it,” Steiner said. “But there needs to be an upside and not just more sharing. So I think it could be 11, could be 12, could be 13, I don’t know.

“But in the end, seeing if they can bring an upside to the 10 stakeholders, which are very solid now, all 10 of them. We didn’t have that for a long time. The competition is getting closer as well. Financially, everybody’s stable. Why should we rock that boat, you know, if there is not more coming to us?”