The FIA ​​officially launches its call for applications for the opening of the F1 grid

The famous tweet of discord from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem will therefore not have gone in vain. The Emirati, who had publicly expressed his desire to see the grid of F1 to open up more, then announced the imminence of the opening of a declaration of interest process. Here we are.

This Thursday, February 2, the call for applications was even officially launched. In the official communication of the Federation based in Paris, we learn in fact that it could be “of one or more stables”, and that they would be free to commit from 2025, 2026 or 2027. 

Naturally, the FIA ​​has revealed the criteria that the candidates must meet, detailed in eight points distinct. Among these, we obviously find the technical capabilities and resources of the said structure, the propensity of the team to financially assume its long-term commitment, the provision of a detailed five-year business plan, the experience and capabilities demonstrated in motorsport so far, but also the material resources that go with it. 

Michael Andretti is optimistic about a future move to F1. ©IndyCar Media

It will also be necessary, for the first time, to provide proof of taking into account questions linked to sustainable development and all considerations concerning equality, diversity or even inclusion, in addition to attempting to explain how their incorporation into Formula 1 will allow the championship to emerge stronger.

In the document published by the FIA, we also learn that the promoter, Liberty Media, “could also impose additional additional criteria”. As a reminder, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has for the moment rather expressed his caution regarding the benefit of opening the grid. 

In terms of timetable, the FIA ​​set April 30, 2023 as the deadline to apply, specifying that a decision would come two months later, on June 30 of the same year. “For the avoidance of doubt, no candidate will benefit from automatic entry into the championship, is it specified. The maximum number of teams entered in the championship cannot exceed twelve until 2025 inclusive.. It is also specified that if none of the teams meets the criteria laid down by the FIA ​​or by the holder of F1 commercial rights, then no team will be selected. 

As a reminder, until now, the idea of ​​opening the grid to other teams is not really unanimous in Formula 1. The teams already on the grid have in fact widely communicated their reluctance, fearing having to share the recipes in 11 or 12 rather than 10.

For the moment, among the potential new entrants, only Andretti Global is loud and clear its desire to join the grid, the American structure having also allied itself with General Motors and more precisely Cadillac for its F1 project. To be continued.  

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