FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has made it clear that he is committed to the future growth of Formula 1, with an eye on expanding the grid.
After successfully pushing for the inclusion of Cadillac as the eleventh team for the 2026 season and beyond, Ben Sulayem has set his sights on a twelfth team.
His desire to welcome more teams into the sport stems from his belief that Formula 1’s potential is far from being fully realised.
“It’s been my dream for the last two years that the big countries should have a presence in Formula 1,” Ben Sulayem told French newspaper Le Figaro.
“The United States will be with General Motors. The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer. We already have a driver (referring to Guanyu Zhou).”
Despite his advocacy for increased competition, Ben Sulayem is less keen on the growing number of races.
“I think 24 is a bit too much,” said Ben Sulayem. “I said it and was attacked by many media outlets. But 20 grands prix is enough.”
While Liberty Media, which holds the rights to the sport under the Concorde Agreement, has the power to expand the calendar, Ben Sulayem has expressed a preference for fewer grands prix.
He believes this would maintain the quality and prestige of each event, rather than diluting the spectacle.
Though Ben Sulayem acknowledges Liberty Media’s success in revitalising the sport, he has raised concerns about the organisation’s shift away from Formula 1’s European roots.
While the sport’s global appeal has broadened, he worries that the increasing focus on markets outside Europe could compromise its traditional essence.
