FIA President Discusses Potential Chinese 12th F1 Team Entry

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has indicated that Formula 1 could expand to include a twelfth team, potentially from China, following Cadillac's entry as the eleventh team in 2026. Sulayem emphasized the preference for adding more teams rather than new races, highlighting the sport's growth and the importance of sustaining its business, especially by tapping into the Chinese market. Discussions with Chinese manufacturers, such as Geely which has ties to Aston Martin and Renault, are reportedly underway, and Sulayem expressed confidence that Formula One Management would approve a Chinese bid. However, he stressed that any expansion would not be for its own sake but must add value and meet FIA's competency and business criteria. The introduction of a Chinese team is seen as a strategic move to increase Formula 1's commercial appeal in one of the world's largest markets, though no official bid has yet been announced. Sulayem also noted that the FIA has tightened entry conditions since the last Expression of Interest process to ensure the right teams join the grid.