P1racenews AI automatic summary:
An 11th team is already set to join, but FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has eyes on a 12th outfit!
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has shown his support for a potential 12th team to join the grid, emphasizing China as a potential market. The Formula 1 grid is set to expand to 11 teams in 2026, with Cadillac approved to enter backed by General Motors, following the rejection of the initial Andretti bid by FOM due to commercial issues. Ben Sulayem initiated the Expression of Interest program in January 2023 to allow new teams to potentially join, aligning with the current Concorde Agreement’s provision for 13 teams or 26 cars. The current Concorde Agreement, which introduced the cost cap to F1 in 2021, is being renegotiated and will expire by the end of 2025. Despite existing teams’ concerns about financial stability, Ben Sulayem believes that exploring China as a key market for a 12th team is crucial and envisions big countries having a presence in Formula 1, with the United States already represented by General Motors and potential for a Chinese manufacturer to join, with Zhou Guanyu as a notable driver.
