F1
The FIA wants to attract new teams to F1
Not sure that Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, and Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, like the statement from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem… / © DPPI
It was through a simple tweet that the president of the FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that the regulatory body of the world championship of Formula 1 was looking to attract new stables.
I asked my @FIA team to look at launching an Expressions of Interest process for prospective new teams for the FIA @F1 World Championship
- Mohammed Ben Sulayem (@Ben_Sulayem) January 2, 2023
« I have asked my team at the FIA to explore launching an Expression of Interest process for teams potentially interested in joining the Formula 1 world championship. », wrote the former champion of rally.
The method is not trivial, especially since the subject is highly explosive. Since 2017, the grid has included 10 stables after the disappearance of the modest Manor structure at the end of 2016.
Taken over by Liberty Media at the same time, the premier discipline of motorsport experienced a fairly exceptional resurgence in popularity, notably driven by the success of the series Drive to Survive accessible on Netflix.
In addition, the implementation of a decreasing budget cap since the 2021 season and the signing of new Concorde Agreements have made Formula 1 very attractive.
The Andretti clan (Mario and Michael here in 2017 accompanied by Zak Brown, the boss of McLaren) wants to compete in F1 / © DPPI
Paved in the pond
However, the Concorde Agreements in question, which govern sport until 2025, make access to the elite particularly complicated.
Any new entrant must in fact pay an entry fee of 200 million dollars (around 188 million euros), to be paid in 10 equal parts to the teams already present.
Furthermore, apart from two teams, McLaren and Alpine (which is looking for engine clients), the other teams in place are not rushing to welcome new arrivals. More people around the table means smaller pieces of the pie (unless the pie also grows, an argument put forward by potential candidates).
This is how the famous American group Andretti, which has shown its interest for several seasons now and is having adequate facilities built in a brand new headquarters, has still not won the precious sesame.
Until then a simple observer of the situation, the FIA therefore came out of silence with a bang, against a backdrop of power struggle with Formula 1. It will be interesting to watch the reaction of Liberty, Stefano Domenicali, and the reluctant teams after the pavement launched into the pond by Ben Sulayem…
Julien BILLIOTTE
AUTOhebdo deputy editor-in-chief. The feather dipped in gall.
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03/01/2023 at 10:39 a.m.
A grid of 22, 24 or even 26 cars like in the last century would have more appeal and would also allow more young drivers to cut their teeth!!
YVES CHAMPOD
03/01/2023 at 09:22 a.m.
Hahahaha! ! ! Good joke! ? ! Toto, and his darling sister Hamilton, do not want new teams in F1, 'Mercedes AMG Petronas' does not want too fierce competition! . . .