FIA may allow a twelfth team on the F1 grid.
A twelfth Formula 1 team may soon be emerging, following in Cadillac's footsteps. After a lengthy battle with F1's commercial rights holder Liberty Media and the current ten teams, Cadillac - initially associated with Andretti - has finally received approval to join the sport in 2026.
"I didn't grasp the reasoning behind it," F1 icon Gerhard Berger remarked to Auto Motor und Sport when questioned about Liberty’s resistance. "Perhaps there’s something going on behind the scenes that I'm unaware of.
"What more could you ask for than an American team featuring an American driver supported by Cadillac? Sure, Cadillac diverts some funds from the other teams, but it also attracts new sponsors.
"A better resolution could have been reached instead of two years of disputes," Berger stated.
Andretti-Cadillac has consistently had the backing of the FIA, led by the controversial president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The FIA president is now suggesting that F1 should expand the grid by including a twelfth team.
"We are very conscious that I faced significant backlash over the eleventh team," Ben Sulayem acknowledged. "But now we have it.
"Was all that conflict necessary to achieve this? I don’t believe so," he continued. "There were clear regulations, and we are even permitted to have twelve teams.
"Will we have twelve? If the right team steps forward, the FIA will open up expressions of interest. We are not intimidated by anyone. We will act in the best interest of the FIA."
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