F1 News: Ben Sulayem’s goal after Andretti team is Chinese team

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he wants two new F1 teams, with one from the US and one from China.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Currently, there are 10 F1 teams, but the FIA and the millions of F1 fans want more. The Concorde Agreement allows up to 12 teams.

Opposing more teams are the greedy existing team owners and the FOM who view adding additional teams as watering down the prize money pool.

The FIA has already approved an American outfit – Andretti-Cadillac – but Ben Sulayem plans to approve one more.

“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,” he told Motorsport Magazin.

“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.”

“Power unit manufacturers are very important,” the president, who was promoted to the role after the 2021 season, said. “We will have six in 2026 and seven in 2028 (when Cadillac joins).

“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,” said Ben Sulayem.

“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,” stressed Ben Sulayem.