- After years of discussion on whether Formula 1 will official add new teams to its ranks, the decision is expected be announced in September.
- While F1 President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been supportive of the move.
- The FIA is currently in the process of reviewing the submissions but says it will not provide periodic updates on the situation.
The boss of Formula 1 says he expects a final decision on prospective new teams to be made in September as officials continue to adopt a cool attitude towards the situation.
Governing body the FIA opened a process in January for prospective new entrants to join the Formula 1 championship in either 2025 or 2026.
It is understood that there are several submissions but the most prominent is Andretti, which has support from General Motors, while junior single-seater team Hitech has also lodged a bid.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been broadly supportive of Andretti’s bid but commercial rights holder Liberty Media, as well as most teams, have adopted a hardened stance owing to the health of the current teams and associated revenues.
The FIA is currently in the process of reviewing the submissions and has emphasized that it will not be providing a running commentary on the situation.
Speaking during an investor call on Friday, Liberty Media’s President and CEO Greg Maffei explained that “we have 10 great teams, we’re very excited about what they’re doing.
“There’s a process to add more teams but the bar is very high, and it’s unclear what value and 11th team would add, and there’s a lot of uncertainty from the other teams about adding an 111th team.”
Maffei added that “the FIA and we have had productive discussions about all this—do we agree on everything at the moment? No, we discuss things and hopefully work things out.”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has regularly reiterated his belief that the grid does not need expanding.
“The FIA started a process, as is in their possibility, we are waiting for the final conclusion,” he said.
“As always, in these discussions, we’ll find an agreement together because the value of the teams and the value of the business today is very, very strong.
“That decision, that information, will come very, very soon, I would say within the month of September.”
Formula 1 has had 10 teams throughout Liberty Media’s ownership of the championship.
It last had 11 teams in 2016, when Haas joined, before Manor Racing collapsed and withdrew at the end of that season.
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