The president of the FIA is seeking to have a Chinese manufacturer included in the F1 grid.

      Mohammed Ben Sulayem acknowledges that he already has a favored candidate for the final team garage in the Formula 1 pitlane. After a prolonged struggle against Liberty Media and the current ten teams, the FIA president finally achieved his goal of including Cadillac as the eleventh team starting in 2026. Now, he is looking toward the addition of a twelfth team.

      "It has been my aspiration for the past two years that significant nations have a presence in Formula 1," Ben Sulayem told the French publication Le Figaro. "The United States will be represented by General Motors. The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer. We already have a driver," he continued, referring to Guanyu Zhou, who is set to be a Ferrari reserve in 2025.

      While he desires the expansion of teams, Ben Sulayem is also vocal about his wish for fewer grands prix. "I believe 24 is somewhat excessive," stated the outspoken 63-year-old. "I expressed this and faced criticism from various media outlets. But 20 grands prix is sufficient."

      Nonetheless, he clarified that the decision to maximize the calendar ultimately lies with Liberty Media, as permitted by the Concorde Agreement. "It is not the FIA’s duty," he admitted. However, he believes that Liberty is doing an "excellent job," even though he feels they are venturing too far from the sport’s European origins.

      "It is positive when Formula 1 expands into new markets and countries," said Ben Sulayem. "However, we must not overlook where the history began. I would be thrilled if F1 returned to France, as well as to Germany," he emphasized.