P1racenews AI automatic summary:
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes Formula 1 should expand to 12 teams as it has the capacity to do so, asking, “Why not?”
In January, F1 initially rejected Michael Andretti’s bid for a 2026 entry, but later reversed course when General Motors took a stronger position, leading to GM’s Cadillac brand confirmed to join the grid in 2026 with a power unit by 2028. Ben Sulayem, open to a 12th team on the grid, emphasized the importance of expanding and doing the right thing for F1’s growth. Michael Andretti handed over his Andretti Global enterprise to Dan Towriss, who, along with GM, convinced F1 of the value of their fully works entry. FIA and Domenicali stressed the need for an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), leading to GM’s successful bid. The DOJ probe over F1’s rejection of Andretti’s bid played a role in ensuring fairness and transparency in the process, with Sulayem highlighting his openness and commitment to governance and democracy throughout.
