Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has appeared to have a change of heart on the 11th team saga, after admitting he is happy to “share the cake if the cake is bigger”.
The vocal Austrian has previously been very much against a new team joining the championship, amid concerns that the current 10 teams would therefore receive less money.
However, with the current interest from Audi and Porsche to join the championship in 2026, Wolff has backtracked on his previous comments and has admitted that if a “new engine supplier” wants to join, then it’s a “whole different ball game”.
Audi are already confirmed to be joining the championship as a power unit supplier in 2026, with the famous manufacturer currently rumoured to be trying to strike a deal to purchase Sauber.
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Porsche’s interest is profound; however, the German manufacturer is yet to be confirmed for 2026, with the VW-owned company having had talks with Red Bull breakdown.
The pair’s conversation broke down after Porsche reportedly demanded too much control over their powertrains, which they’d supply.
Supposedly, Red Bull were also unhappy at the manufacturer’s demand of having a 50 percent share in the Austrian team.
Wolff is all for the two VW-owned manufacturers joining the series due to the fact they’ll be entering as power unit suppliers; however, the 50-year-old has previously been firmly against Michael Andretti entering a side.
Wolff explained that any prospective team will be checked by F1 and the FIA to deem if they are “suitable” to join the championship, with it being how F1 is “made”.
“Formula 1 thrives because we have 10 teams, each with a different DNA, dedicated to Formula 1, most of which have spent more than a few billion over many years,” Wolff said, as per motorsport-magazin.com.
“And that has made Formula 1 what it is today.
“If a new team wants to join, anyone is free to propose it to the FIA, then the FIA and F1 have to investigate whether that team is suitable for our business. That has not been the case so far.
“If a team comes with a new engine supplier and says this is what we want to do, then of course it’s a whole different ball game and will trigger different considerations, that’s the point for me as a team owner. It’s not a problem to share the cake if the cake is bigger.”
Andretti had his interest in entering a team into the championship rejected by both F1 and the FIA, with both companies failing to listen to the American’s pleas.
With the championship booming in the United States, it’s difficult to understand why they wouldn’t want an American team.
An American team in F1 would arguably only increase the amount of profit made across the pond, whilst it would also give American drivers a better chance of reaching the pinnacle of motorsport.
American IndyCar driver Graham Rahal has spoken out against F1 continuing to reject America, after giving his view that the sport simply wants “US individuals’ money” and not the drivers.
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Rahal’s comments come at a time when Andretti is continuing to fail in a bid to join the series, whilst talented American Colton Herta is seeing any hope of joining AlphaTauri blocked by the FIA’s superlicence system.
“They don’t want us,” Rahal tweeted.
“Remember that. They want US companies’ money, they want wealthy US individuals’ money. But they don’t care about the rest. Always has been that way, always will be.”