Method One wants extra groups and fewer races and may welcome Michael Andretti’s entry bid pretty much as good for enterprise and the spirit of the game, based on FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The Emirati advised Reuters on the Qatar Grand Prix he was optimistic the American’s deliberate eleventh crew with Basic Motors’ Cadillac model would make it to the beginning grid regardless of opposition from present opponents.
The governing FIA introduced final week it had accepted Andretti’s software and despatched it on to Liberty Media-owned Method One Administration (FOM) for business discussions.
These detailed talks may take a while.
“Saying no to a crew which has been accepted by the FIA, it’s totally arduous to say no,” Ben Sulayem mentioned in his workplace on the Lusail circuit. “You may name me optimistic, I am all the time optimistic. I feel sure,” he added when requested whether or not he thought Andretti would prevail.
Ben Sulayem mentioned Liberty Media’s share value had gone up when the FIA’s approval of Andretti was introduced.
“The FIA needs to be asking, begging, OEMs [car manufacturers] to return in. We must always not simply say no to them,” he mentioned.
“When you say what’s my dream, it’s to refill the 12 [slots] and to have one U.S. crew from an OEM and a PU [power unit] and a driver from there driving. After which go to China possibly and ask for a similar factor and do it.”
Groups are against growing the grid past the present 10 as a result of it might cut back their share of the prize pot and dilute their general worth, however they haven’t any say within the choice.
Method One chief government Stefano Domenicali has sounded lukewarm and mentioned any enlargement needed to be proper for the enterprise.
Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff has mentioned anybody wanting to hitch the celebration can buy an present crew, an costly possibility with the game’s reputation surging and valuations across the $1 billion mark.
A brand new crew should pay a $200 million dilution charge, to be shared amongst present opponents, beneath the present guidelines however some say that’s not sufficient.
“You can not power Andretti/GM to purchase one other crew simply because they [the owners] wish to promote,” Ben Sulayem mentioned. “I will not point out names however they had been after me to go on and persuade GM to do this. It is not my job. I used to be not elected to do this. I’m not a dealer.
“We’re allowed to have 12 groups [in the rules]. Among the groups mentioned ‘Oh, it is going to be crowded’. Actually? We’re already operating a Hollywood crew with us,” he mentioned, referring to Brad Pitt’s F1 film being filmed at some races.
Pink Bull boss Christian Horner mentioned in Could that new groups could be arduous to slot in.
“The circuits are speculated to have sufficient garages and area for 12 groups…I feel the variety of races is an excessive amount of, somewhat than the variety of groups. We want extra groups and fewer races,” Ben Sulayem added.
“The groups are trying on the piece of cake. I perceive their worries…however our worries are completely different.”
Subsequent season can have a report 24 rounds, up from 22