Whereas the 2024 Components 1 season appears to be like to be offering loads of drama on the monitor, one other main story continues to off the monitor. The proposed Andretti-Cadillac partnership has provided no scarcity of twists and turns, taking F1 followers from the halls of the USA Congress and past.
The newest twist within the saga comes from Fédération Internationale de l’Car (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who in the course of the Monaco Grand Prix provided an answer to the gridlock over the proposed Andretti-Cadillac crew. Whereas the FIA authorised the bid from Andretti-Cadillac to hitch the F1 grid, Components One Administration (FOM), the game’s industrial rights holders, rejected the proposed crew earlier this yr.
Talking in Monaco with Reuters, Ben Sulayem provided this resolution: Andretti-Cadillac can purchase an present crew.
“I’ve little doubt FOM and Liberty [Media — F1’s ownership group] would like to see different groups so long as they’re OEMs [Original Equipment/Car Manufacturers],” stated Ben Sulayem in Monaco. “I might advise them [Andretti-Cadillac] to go and purchase one other crew, to not come because the eleventh crew.”
Based on the FIA President, it comes all the way down to a matter of high quality, not amount.
“I really feel that some groups should be refreshed. What is best? To have 11 groups as a quantity or 10 and they’re sturdy? I nonetheless consider we must always have extra groups however not any groups. The appropriate groups,” added Ben Sulayem.
“It’s not in regards to the quantity, it’s in regards to the high quality.”
President Ben Sulayem then identified how some groups at the moment on the grid are “struggling,” and that there’s a sure enchantment to a really American crew on the Components 1 grid. For the time being Haas is the one American crew, however present drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg are from Denmark and Germany, respectively.
A serious pitch with the Andretti-Cadillac bid is that it is going to be a real American operation. Past the connection with Common Motors, Michael Andretti famous when the partnership was introduced in January of 2023 that the purpose could be to have American drivers. “[An] American producer behind an American crew with an American driver would be the greatest story of the yr,” Andretti instructed media, together with SB Nation, on a convention name final yr.
“With out mentioning names, there are groups that are struggling…scuffling with efficiency, struggling even with administration,” stated Ben Sulayem to Reuters. “It’s about having the proper crew, to not lose an opportunity or a possibility the place somebody like GM [General Motors] with a PU [power unit] is coming to Components One.
“Think about the influence. We’ve three races in America. We’ve such an enormous fan base. However we don’t have a correct [American] crew,” added Ben Sulayem. “I’m so glad to have Ford in [with Red Bull from 2026] however think about having GM and picture having American drivers.”
FIA President Ben Sulayem was not the one key determine within the sport to supply this resolution in Monaco. Talking forward of the Monaco Grand Prix Purple Bull Workforce Principal Christian Horner additionally recommended that the “pure resolution” for Andretti-Cadillac was to buy an present crew.
“I believe Andretti is a good racing heritage,” stated Horner to assembled media in Monaco. “Mario is a legend of the game and naturally, [they are partnered with] Cadillac, the large automotive producer from the US.
“I believe Components 1 have stated in 2028, in the event that they have been to come back with their very own engine, they’d clearly evaluate it however I believe along with that, I believe that if Andretti have been to need to come, just a little like Audi acquired Sauber, I believe to guard the present franchises’ stability that we now have within the sport, then, clearly, their greatest path to the purpose is to accumulate one of many present groups.”
Regardless of FOM’s choice to disclaim Andretti-Cadillac a spot on the F1 grid, the possible crew has solid forward with their F1 operation. Andretti-Cadillac opened a brand new facility in Silverstone, close to the location of the British Grand Prix, and lately introduced the signing of Pat Symonds, a transfer that despatched shockwaves by way of the game. Symonds, who has many years of expertise in F1 and is coming off seven years as F1’s Chief Technical Officer, will be a part of the crew after a quick gardening interval.
Whether or not he joins the possible eleventh crew on the grid, or a crew that can look to buy an present crew as beneficial by FIA President Ben Sulayem, stays to be seen.
