F1 News: FIA President Fights Back At Opposing Teams In Andretti Bid - "Good For Business"

"Why do Michael Andretti and GM need the teams’ support?" said Ben Sulayem

In what appears to be a major development in the Andretti Cadillac F1 story, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said that the teams don't really have a say on the new team's admission into Formula 1, thus terming their say in the matter as irrelevant. 

Andretti Cadillac was the sole applicant to be approved by the FIA to join the F1 grid this year. However, part two of the team's entry into the sport supposedly rests with the Formula 1 management and the team owners who are responsible for analyzing the value the new team would bring to the sport before granting approval. 

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F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has shown little interest in expanding the grid while the existing teams are concerned about the financial impact Andretti Cadillac would bring along since they would be required to share the revenue fees with an additional player. This is despite the fact that Andretti Cadillac would be asked to pay a $200 million anti-dilution fee upfront. 

Recent developments in the Andretti-F1 story took a complicated turn when a report revealed that Formula 1 was trying to convince General Motors to part ways with Andretti Autosport and join hands with an existing team on the grid if it wanted to be a part of F1. 

Stressing that the other teams don't have a say in the addition of Andretti Cadillac's entry into Formula 1, Ben Sulayem told Speedcafe.com:

“Let’s ask ourselves a question – why do Michael Andretti and GM need the teams’ support? I don’t understand.

"Do they [the teams] have any say in the admission?”

When asked if the teams' say in the matter is irrelevant, the FIA president affirmed saying:

“To this, yes.

"In the sport, they are an element, and everybody has the right to express their feeling toward it, but how can you refuse GM? I don’t understand. Just why?”

Sounding positive, Ben Sulayem added that Formula 1 and its commercial rights holder Liberty Media would see the business advantages of having the American team on board F1. After all, it would be "good for business." He concluded:

“The FIA has the right on the sporting side; FOM has the money side, but will FOM refuse?

"We are talking about the biggest manufacturer in the United States working with one of the biggest companies, Liberty Media, and if they don’t see it…

"If we’re talking about business, this is good for business.”

Meanwhile, Andretti Cadillac is applying full throttle to race in Formula 1 from 2025 as they recently tested their 2023-spec car in the Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne.