F1
A Saudi team in Formula 1 soon? “It could happen…”
© Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
It's no secret: Saudi Arabia is attacking motorsport and Formula 1 for several years now. The kingdom is now part of the sporting and economic landscape of the discipline, whether through the organization of a Grand Prix on the Corniche circuit in Jeddah or through sponsorship via the oil company Aramco. However, the Middle Eastern country does not yet seem satisfied and could continue its "expansion" in the world of Formula 1. With the ongoing construction of the Qiddiya circuit – with an opening planned for 2027 – Saudi Arabia could host two Grand Prix races in the coming years. But that's not all...
Indeed, the country of black gold could be interested in purchasing a Formula 1 team in the future, according to the president of the Saudi Automobile Federation, Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal. "It could happen, it could happen soon given the growth (of the sport), the Saudi leader said during a video conference, reports ReutersIf you acquire a Formula 1 team, you buy it to make money, especially if it is bought by one of the PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) companies. We see that Formula 1 is reaching new markets, that sales are increasing overall… It is not easy to say which team to buy and how to manage it. We host Formula 1, we sponsor teams. So I would not be surprised to see the announcement of a Saudi team.
Aston Martin in Saudi Arabia's sights?
Saudi Arabia is already involved in the team through Aramco. Aston Martin, as the title sponsor of the British team. In addition, the Saudi oil company is one of the main shareholders of the English manufacturer, with around 20%. Recently, The Gaydon-based firm has announced that it is putting its shares in its F1 team up for sale.. Let us also recall that last June, Aramco acquired a 10% stake in the capital of HORSE Powertrain Limited, the engine and transmission company created by Geely and… Renault Group, of which is part Alpine.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund could then follow in the footsteps of other Gulf countries, which have already invested in other F1 teams. McLaren is owned by the Bahrain Sovereign Wealth Fund, while the Qatar Investment Authority bought 25% of the future Audi team at the end of last year. Just like in football, these Middle Eastern countries could well compete in motorsport and Formula 1.
“Personally, I would like to see a Saudi team, added Prince Khalid. But if Saudi Arabia or one of the Saudi companies is involved in one of the teams, I would like them to do it the right way and succeed. It's a tricky question, but why not? As a reminder, in addition to Formula 1, Saudi Arabia is also involved in WRC, with the organization from a first rally in the World Championship to the end of the season.
ALSO READ > The program for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
-
2025 COLLECTION97,95€ NEW -
Collection 2025110,00€ NEW -
ICONIC199,00€ SCALE 1/2 -
Collection 202545,00€ NEW -
Collection 2025Red Bull Max Verstappen men's t-shirt
80,00€ NEW -
Coal€ 1 Ultra light -
Collection 202550,00€ New in XNUMX -
Collection 2025Pirelli Australian GP Winner Cap 2025
75,00€ NEW -
2025 COLLECTION95,00€ NEW -
GP AUSTRALIAMcLaren Oscar Piastri 2025 Cap
45,00€ NEW -
Collection 202570,00€ NEW -
Collection 202540,00€ NEW -
LIMITED EDITION184,95€ NEW -
Collection 2025100,00€ NEW -
Collection 2025Mercedes AMG Team white men's t-shirt
100,00€ NEW
Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
Continue reading on these topics:
Read also
Lucas Paul
16/04/2025 at 11:23 a.m.
And why not! Today, sport and drivers are secondary! Only money matters, and for that, the Arabs are the strongest...as long as there is oil!!!!
vincent moyet
16/04/2025 at 09:38 a.m.
Aston Martin is a possible target because it's a shaky team, created to allow a daddy's boy to race in F1, who will never win a single GP, let alone a championship. Already, things will be stuck with Honda, who would like to bring Tsunoda, and when Lance Stroll gets tired of being the laughingstock of the paddock and wants to play something else, daddy Stroll will happily sell the team to whoever wants it.
Navel
15/04/2025 at 11:23 a.m.
At the same time they are sponsors of Aston with Aramco and MA'ADEN so it's just one more step for them to buy a team.
Alain Féguenne (Luxembourg)
15/04/2025 at 07:19 a.m.
🤨👀🤨👀😎 No comment, he only thinks about money….. and the benefit they can get from it …….. 🤨🤨🤨
JO ORTIZ
15/04/2025 at 07:12 a.m.
Saudi Arabia could even organize the whole season, FOM would be delighted to collect the dollars, everything can be bought. Perhaps they are also eyeing Alpine.
Hilton Leon
15/04/2025 at 04:59 a.m.
Nothing new. A Malaysian owned LOTUS, an Indian owned Force INDIA and REDBULL is half owned by a Thai.
Michel Vaillant
15/04/2025 at 03:43 a.m.
In this case, no, it was rather the FOM that "caused all the misery in the world" for Andretti, with Bin Sulayem openly supporting him. As for a "great story", in principle history is the result of successive innovations and acculturations, so there is nothing surprising in the fact that some want to invite themselves into the game. Without this, Spain would never have become a great football country (an English invention), Italy would never have been renowned for its pasta (originally Asian), the Amerindians for their horsemanship (horses arrived with the Spanish and the Portuguese at the end of the 1th century), and so on. All things that are considered perfectly legitimate today. And then, given that F1 has been for years (thanks, or not, Uncle Bernie) the playground of multi-millionaires/billionaires, it is more than logical that this attracts the owners of large capitals, especially when these come largely from oil exploitation, essential to the FXNUMX in question.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
15/04/2025 at 03:13 a.m.
McLaren is owned by Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund... are you sure Mumtalakat Holding Company BSC (Mumtalakat) still owns it? CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, has reportedly completed the acquisition of McLaren Automotive from Mumtalakat, also taking a minority stake in McLaren Racing. Mumtalakat is reportedly in talks with Dorilton about taking a stake or even buying Williams Racing...
dedeHJ37
15/04/2025 at 03:08 a.m.
MBS made it all the trouble in the world for Andreti to come to F1 but for Saudi Arabia it will be red carpet! Does this country have a great history with the automobile like France has???