FIA president Ben Sulayem calls out ‘adverse reaction’ to potential Andretti Cadillac F1 entry

Existing teams reluctant to divide revenue with potential new 11th team.
  • Andretti and Cadillac are lining up a joint bid to join F1
  • An 11th team would divide the existing revenue, which existing teams are not happy about

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has criticised the 'adverse reaction' to Andretti Cadillac's potential Formula One entry.

Last week, Andretti Autosport announced it had secured the support of General Motors for a future Formula One entry through its Cadillac brand.

This news came shortly after Ben Sulayem revealed a new entry process for prospective Formula One teams.

Despite this clear and organised effort from the governing body to assess a potential expansion to the Formula One grid, it has been with a frosty reception from the existing teams.

The biggest source of opposition appears to be Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has previously questioned the value of a “ten per cent dilution [in prize money] for everybody else” with the addition of an 11th team.

In the tweet criticising the reaction, Ben Sulayem said:

While there has not been much of an outward reaction from Formula One, this appears to suggest a certain level of unrest behind the scenes.

This is the latest in a series of conflicts between the FIA and Formula One, a relationship that seems increasingly strained over recent months. Ben Sulayem and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had a bizarre exchange at the FIA's prize giving gala, for example.

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