Michael Andretti's bid to launch a new Formula 1 team could be in danger after it emerged that a "strong majority" of the sport's current members would be against a new entrant.
The FIA opened the door to a potential new team last week when president Mohammed ben Sulayem announced a new 'Expressions of Interest' process. Anyone who wants to join the sport now has an official application route through the governing body.
Days later, Andretti announced its new partnership with Cadillac, owned by the General Motors Company [GMC], as part of its plan to enter F1. And the Americans are far from the only ones interested in joining the grid, with several other projects also in the works.
The FIA, and Ben Sulayem in particular, appeared flattered by the Andretti bid as it responded to the idea of GMC joining F1. The sport's own response was more lukewarm, as it was made clear that they too would have the final say over which and how many new team will be approved for entry.
But, in a new social media post, the FIA chief has hinted at disquiet among the current teams. "It is surprising that there has been some adverse reaction to the Cadillac and Andretti news," he wrote, before issuing what came across as a public plea for existing teams to be more open to the idea.
He added: "The FIA has accepted the entries of smaller, successful organisations in recent years. We should be encouraging prospective F1 entries from global manufacturers like GMC and thoroughbred racers like Andretti and others. Interest from teams in growth markets adds diversity and broadens F1's appeal."
Speaking to Reuters, an unnamed "senior team figure" made it clear that there are many people unhappy about the prospect of a new team. A "strong majority" is apparently against Andretti's entry, even now that they would be bringing a huge automotive brand like GMC into the fold.
The major complaint is likely to be over the $200m entry fee which, under the current regulations, would be paid by any new team and shared among the existing teams as "dilution" payments. $20m each is, in the opinion of most, not enough compensation given the recent growth in popularity and financial value the sport has experienced in recent years.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has been one of the most outspoken in this regard. The Austrian said last year: "The value of Formula 1 is that it's a limited amount of franchises and we don’t want to dilute that value by just adding teams."
Ben Sulayem has made it clear that it will likely be several months before any decision is made regarding who may be allowed to enter F1. And even if a project was approved, they will likely not be able to begin competing until the 2026 season at the earliest.
