Following Cadillac, which will join the grid in 2026 with American engine manufacturer General Motors as the eleventh team, FIA President Ben Sulayem is now focusing on the next step: welcoming a Chinese manufacturer. This has been a ‘dream’ he has cherished for years. “We already have a driver,” he says.
After a long battle with Liberty Media and the existing ten teams, Ben Sulayem finally got his way at the end of last year: the arrival of Cadillac means that there will be eleven Formula 1 teams on the grid in 2026. The American team will race with engines from General Motors, marking the entry of an American engine manufacturer into Formula 1.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, the FIA president makes it clear that he does not intend to stop at General Motors. “For the past two years, it has been my dream to see the major countries represented in Formula 1,” he says. “The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer. We already have a driver,” Ben Sulayem refers to Guanyu Zhou, who joined Ferrari as a reserve driver after leaving Sauber.
Criticism
Ben Sulayem does not mince his words once again. The arrival of Cadillac marked the end of a turbulent period, during which he faced harsh criticism for his open attitude towards teams wanting to enter Formula 1. In a conversation with Motorsport.com, the FIA president said at the time: “I have nothing to hide. I was elected on the basis of governance, democracy, and transparency. Everything we have done has been carried out according to the correct procedures and careful considerations.”
Although the FIA president is in favor of more teams, he believes there should be fewer grand prix on the calendar. “I think 24 races is a bit too much. 20 grand prix is enough,” says Ben Sulayem. Whether the calendar will actually be shortened is still a question, as the responsibility for this does not lie with the FIA. Moreover, commercial rights holder Liberty Media has the right to maximize the number of races, as long as the Concorde Agreement allows it.
