Domenicali counters Ben Sulayem's proposal for a 12th team.

      "We need to exercise caution in this matter."

      Stefano Domenicali has expressed skepticism regarding FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s suggestion of potentially expanding Formula 1’s grid to 24 cars. In July, Ben Sulayem, who is running for re-election against Tim Mayer, proposed that with Cadillac entering as the eleventh team in 2026, the series could also accommodate a twelfth team. He even hinted at the possibility of a Chinese-backed entry, rumored to be Geely. However, Formula 1’s CEO, Domenicali, who opposed the Cadillac entry alongside existing teams before ultimately conceding, now maintains that the sport has reached its capacity. "We need to exercise caution in this matter," he stated. "We will only consider the most serious and significant proposals because, in my view, we have already reached our limit. Logistically, we are already at the brink of what is feasible."

      Instead, Domenicali notes an increase in interest from investors seeking to acquire existing teams rather than introducing new ones. "I see a lot of interest from investors looking to buy existing franchises, so to speak, as the value of the teams is increasing dramatically along with the financial interest in investing in Formula 1," he remarked at Monza. "But because things are progressing well, we need to be cautious and safeguard the value of what we have built."