System One wants extra groups and fewer races and may welcome Michael Andretti’s entry bid nearly as good for enterprise and the spirit of the game, in keeping with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The Emirati advised Reuters on the Qatar Grand Prix he was optimistic the American’s deliberate eleventh workforce with Basic Motors’ Cadillac model would make it to the beginning grid regardless of opposition from current opponents.
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The governing FIA introduced final week it had accepted Andretti’s software and despatched it on to Liberty Media-owned System One Administration (FOM) for industrial discussions.
These detailed talks might take a while.
“Saying no to a workforce which has been accepted by the FIA, it’s totally laborious to say no,” Ben Sulayem stated in his workplace on the Lusail circuit. “You’ll be able to name me optimistic, I am all the time optimistic. I feel sure,” he added when requested whether or not he thought Andretti would prevail.
Ben Sulayem stated Liberty Media’s share value had gone up when the FIA’s approval of Andretti was introduced.
“The FIA must be asking, begging, OEMs [car manufacturers] to come back in. We should always not simply say no to them,” he stated.
“When you say what’s my dream, it’s to replenish the 12 [slots] and to have one U.S. workforce from an OEM and a PU [power unit] and a driver from there driving. After which go to China possibly and ask for a similar factor and do it.”
Groups are against growing the grid past the present 10 as a result of it might scale back their share of the prize pot and dilute their total worth, however they haven’t any say within the resolution.
System One chief government Stefano Domenicali has sounded lukewarm and stated any enlargement needed to be proper for the enterprise.
Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff has stated anybody wanting to affix the occasion can purchase an current workforce, an costly possibility with the game’s reputation surging and valuations across the $1 billion mark.
A brand new workforce should pay a $200 million dilution price, to be shared amongst current opponents, beneath the present guidelines however some say that’s not sufficient.
“You can’t power Andretti/GM to purchase one other workforce simply because they [the owners] need to promote,” Ben Sulayem stated. “I will not point out names however they have been after me to go on and persuade GM to try this. It isn’t my job. I used to be not elected to try this. I’m not a dealer.
“We’re allowed to have 12 groups [in the rules]. Among the groups stated ‘Oh, it will likely be crowded’. Actually? We’re already working a Hollywood workforce with us,” he stated, referring to Brad Pitt’s F1 film being filmed at some races.
Pink Bull boss Christian Horner stated in Might that new groups could be laborious to slot in.
“The circuits are imagined to have sufficient garages and house for 12 groups…I feel the variety of races is an excessive amount of, moderately than the variety of groups. We want extra groups and fewer races,” Ben Sulayem added.
“The groups are trying on the piece of cake. I perceive their worries…however our worries are completely different.”
Subsequent season can have a document 24 rounds, up from 22 this 12 months and 19 a decade in the past, and workers burnout is a priority.
Ben Sulayem stated Andretti might additionally enter with no industrial settlement, though whether or not they would need to is one other matter.
“We hope not. Nevertheless it might occur. It could occur,” he stated.
He dismissed discuss of an influence battle between System One and the FIA however emphasised the governing physique’s place as ‘landlord’.
“We’re not a service supplier. We personal the championship. We leased it, we’re the owner. In order that must be revered additionally,” he stated.
“My intention was by no means to embarrass or to place somebody in a nook, Liberty or FOM. I’m right here for the spirit of the game.”