Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media will have the final say on whether Andretti-Cadillac gains access to the grid.
This is the stance of the sport’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, amidst a power struggle with the governing FIA, as President Mohammed Ben Sulayem pushes for an eleventh team as early as 2025.
Ben Sulayem stressed in the Kronen Zeitung newspaper, saying, “Let’s not play games – it’s about money.”
The FIA chief made these comments after the recent World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva on Thursday, where he expressed gratitude to the council members for endorsing the Andretti bid.
“We firmly believe we are doing what is best for the long-term sustainability of the sport,” Ben Sulayem asserted.
However, Domenicali clarified in the same media statement that Liberty-owned Formula One Management will have the final say following ongoing commercial discussions.
“We acknowledge the points raised concerning the FIA’s new team entry process, and as we have stated previously, we will now evaluate the merits of the remaining application,” the Italian stated.
Many of the current ten teams remain opposed to grid expansion, including Haas, who currently hold the distinction of being the sole American team in F1.
“In 2020, we battled for survival,” remarked team boss Gunther Steiner. “If more teams are allowed, the risk of failure in challenging times becomes greater.”
