There appears to be a major disagreement between the FIA and Formula 1 at the moment, as the addition of a new team to the grid is being hotly debated between the two.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has recently told the media that the chances of the F1 grid expanding in the future are slim, as Formula 1 do not want to risk the current stability of the sport by adding another team.
This statement came as bad news for Michael Andretti, who is multiple years deep into his ‘Andretti Global’ project that would see him enter F1 as a new entrant.
The American has recently partnered with US car giant General Motors and is has been announced that the company will use their luxury car brand Cadillac to spearhead their venture into F1.
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Despite F1’s blunt refusal to accept Andretti’s entry proposal, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has recently been posting about the possibility of an 11th F1 team on social media, seemingly disagreeing Domenicali.
Last week the 61-year-old Tweeted that he had instructed a team at the FIA to look into the possibility of expanding the F1 grid, and after the Andretti-Cadillac rumours were met with some discontent from current teams and fans, the FIA president has defended the American outfit.
“It is surprising that there has been some adverse reaction to the @Cadillac and @FollowAndretti news,” wrote Ben Sulayem on Twitter.
“The @FIA has accepted the entries of smaller, successful organisations in recent years. We should be encouraging prospective F1 entries from global manufacturers like @GM and thoroughbred racers like Andretti and others.
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“Interest from teams in growth markets adds diversity and broadens @F1’s appeal.”
With the engine regulations being rewritten in 2026, this would be the ideal year for a new entrant to join F1, as can be seen by the Audi project, which will complete its takeover of Sauber at the end of the 2025 season.
With Formula 1 sanding firm on their stance and new entrants needing the approval of both the FIA and F1, one of the two organisations are going to have to change their mind if Andretti-Cadillac are to be allowed into Formula 1 in the future.