FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem advocates for a twelfth team on the grid. Even though Cadillac is yet to debut as the eleventh team in 2026, the Emirati is already looking ahead, labeling a potential Chinese Formula 1 team as a good long-term investment for the sport. With his idea for another racing team in the premier class, the FIA president seems to have launched his campaign for a second term.
The American team Cadillac has yet to make their debut in Formula 1 as the eleventh team on the grid, but FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is already looking ahead. The Emirati has fully embarked on his campaign for a second term as FIA president, and a key point of his agenda is a Formula 1 grid with 24 cars instead of the current twenty. Ben Sulayem is not the only candidate for the FIA presidency, former FIA steward Tim Mayer announced in Silverstone that he would challenge the Emirati.
Chinese Team
“There have been discussions,” Ben Sulayem reveals to the media about a potential twelfth team. “I still believe we need more teams, not more races. If a Chinese team were to apply, I can tell you – and I’m speaking on behalf of the FOM now – they would all think it’s a good idea because it would be good for business.” According to The Times, there is currently no official bid from a Chinese team to take a place as the twelfth racing team on the grid, although there are ongoing discussions between the FIA and Chinese manufacturers.
However, Ben Sulayem does not want a twelfth team on the grid at all costs. “Should we just add a twelfth team? No, it has to be the right team,” the Emirati continues. “I’m speaking here as a sportsman, who likes to preserve the character of the sport. Others would say that the pie should already be divided among eleven teams, and that’s an argument I understand. But the revenues are growing steadily,” concludes the FIA president.
