It is no secret that Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the President of the FIA wants to expand the F1 grid. He has been open about his desires and has criticized F1 teams for not being open to the idea. In an interview with Motorsport-total.com, he expressed his desire to have works teams from USA and China. With Cadillac already expressing interest, his dream is not something unachievable.
F1 set to be more open from 2026
The new engine regulations will be taking hold from 2026. There are 6 different engine manufacturers on board already. This means the F1 grid is set to be the most diverse it’s been for a while. According to Sulayem, the main reason is the 50/50 split in power between electric power and a traditional ICE.
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This split has attracted a lot of OEMs to the sport, with a few of them already making moves. Andretti Autosport has been pretty vocal about trying to get on the F1 grid. There is no question about their pedigree, capability, or fan base. Impressively, they have managed to get GM to align its Cadillac brand with them. Therefore, an American works team doesn’t sound too far-fetched.
China and EVs
China is currently the biggest market for EVs in the world. It also boasts some of the biggest EV brands. However, none of the Chinese brands have shown interest in the sport. However, things can change quickly in this sport and Sulayem will be hoping for it.
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Mohammed Ben Sulayem mentioned how the increase in electrical power made Honda re-enter the sport. Audi joined outright, Ford has partnered with Red Bull, and GM has a bid with Andretti. Interestingly, Porsche is still not off the table despite failing to partner with Red Bull.
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