Andretti wanted to join Formula 1 for the 2026 season, but F1 said no to their application.
Ben Sulayem, who supported expanding F1’s team count, wanted to see more teams in the races. He even hoped to add a team from the US and one from China to make up the full 12-team grid.
But F1’s management, owned by Liberty Media, didn’t agree. They thought Andretti’s team wouldn’t be competitive enough and might not add much value to the series.
Now, Ben Sulayem has changed his mind. He thinks Andretti should buy an existing team instead of trying to join as the 11th team.
He said, “I would advise [Andretti] to go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team.”
Ben Sulayem believes it’s better to have fewer strong teams than more weaker ones. He wants quality over quantity.
Even though he suggested Andretti buy a team, he still welcomes them and General Motors (GM) into F1. He thinks their partnership could bring more to the sport than some current teams.
He added, “Imagine the impact. We have three races in America. We have such a huge fan base. But we don’t have a proper [US] team.”
This change in stance might be an attempt to mend the relationship between Ben Sulayem and F1’s management. They’ve had disagreements before, and they’re working on a new agreement to run the series.
“F1 has left the door open for Andretti to apply again for 2028 if GM is ready to deliver a works power unit,” Ben Sulayem said.
Despite the rejection, Andretti hasn’t given up. They’re still pushing to join F1 in 2026. They’ve set up a base in the UK and hired former F1 technical director Pat Symonds as a consultant. They’ve even got US politicians involved, trying to challenge F1’s decision.
