Sulayem tells Andretti to buy an F1 team

The FIA president has suggested that Andretti should focus on purchasing an existing Formula 1 team rather than attempting to create a new one from scratch. This advice comes amid ongoing discussions about Andretti’s efforts to join F1, which have faced significant obstacles. 

Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder, rejected Andretti’s initial bid to enter the sport in 2025 or 2026, though they have indicated that an admission in 2028 remains a possibility. Despite this setback, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem continues to support the idea of expanding the grid with an emphasis on getting better teams rather than an increase in the number of teams. 

Ben Sulayem commented, “I would advise them to go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team. I feel that some teams need to be refreshed. What is better? To have 11 teams as a number or 10, and they are strong?” He further added that while he believes in having more teams, it is crucial that they are the right teams.

Alpine and Haas are often mentioned as potential candidates for a sale, even though close sources denied both teams being up for sale. 

Andretti’s pursuit of an F1 entry has been a heated topic for a while now, and it has gotten to the point where some members of the US Senate requested an anti-trust inquiry against F1 in response to the rejection of Andretti’s bid, hoping to seek answers that might turn things around. For now, there is no update on that. 

Adding to the complexity of the situation, General Motors is backing Andretti’s bid and has expressed interest in building its own engine, aiming for an entry in 2028. Ben Sulayem noted that he believes Formula 1 Management and Liberty would be open to new teams joining the grid, provided they are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). But that will not happen any time soon.