FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is not shy about making F1 news headlines, as evidenced by his series of critical comments towards FOM.
Amidst the consistent debate surrounding Andretti and their F1 future, there has been one consistent voice of support. Ben Sulayem, the FIA President, has been unwavering in his commitment to expanding the grid to those who meet the necessary requirements.
As confirmed last month, Andretti meets all the standards set by the FIA. Significant financial firepower, investment into development facilities and a formidable engine partner are all part of the Andretti package. Because of this, Sulayem continues to advocate for their entry into the sport.
This creates a clear stand-off between the FIA and Formula 1, who have very different interpretations on this issue. FOM (Formula One Management) are hesitant to allow for another team to join. Simply put, the arrival of an 11th outfit would dilute the current prize pot allocated to the teams.
In this scenario, Liberty Media might be compelled to increase prize money to offset Andretti’s arrival. If not, they face complaints and criticism from existing teams – many of which have voiced strong opposition to expanding the grid.
Last weekend in COTA, the FIA President told the AP that “greed” remains the biggest obstacle:
“It’s about the money. It’s only about the money… They don’t want to share the money.” These statements were made in reference to F1’s 10 existing teams, who generally oppose Andretti’s entry.
Sulayem reveals extent of opposition
However, in another interview, Mohammed Ben Sulayem gave more passionate comments about the opposition he’s received since supporting Andretti.
“I’m asking myself, ‘What did I do to deserve all of this attack in February and March? They attacked me, the day I opened the expression of interest,” he told Speedcafe.
“Even when my son died, they attacked me, abused me, just to break me, just because I opened for the whole world to enter.
“It was unnecessary, counterproductive, not good for business.
“They can say whatever they want. At the end of the day, I was elected to take care of the sport. Nothing goes into my pocket…
“They look at the money as a piece of cake and they will share it.”
Time will tell
Sulayem’s heartfelt comments were in reference to his treatment since the start of 2023, when the FIA’s formal process of evaluating potential entrants began. Very clearly, as seen in previous months, there is a significant rift within the sport.
Moving forward, it is unclear who will win this political battle. The newest information suggests that Andretti still have a long way to go before reaching an agreement with F1.
Scrutiny on this topic will almost certainly increase, especially as 2025 approaches. Although the American team could escalate this issue and take legal action, hopefully a less damaging agreement can be reached between the two parties.
