FIA President Plans 12th F1 Team From China

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is advocating for the addition of a twelfth team in Formula 1, focusing on attracting a manufacturer from China following Cadillac's recent approval as the sport's eleventh team. Cadillac's entry was initially met with resistance from Formula One Management, which cited commercial grounds for its rejection, but a restructuring of the bid led to its acceptance. Ben Sulayem, who launched an Expression of Interest program to facilitate new teams, believes that having more teams rather than increasing the number of races could enhance the sport's global appeal. He emphasized the importance of competitive quality over mere quantity, stating that it's crucial for major automotive markets, like China, to have representation in F1. The president's vision includes leveraging existing drivers, like Zhou Guanyu, to further solidify China's presence in the sport. Overall, Ben Sulayem argues that diversifying the grid with new teams strengthens Formula 1's international standing.