’New entrants’ set to race into F1
"Andretti, Penske, they are big names"
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is confident "new entrants" will enter Formula 1 after the 2026 engine rules come into force.
Those regulations have faced conspicuous delays as they were debated over the past weeks and months, but the World Motor Sport Council is now "considering" the finalised rules.
Referring to F1’s "stakeholders", Sulayem said: "I’m proud of their efforts which allows for new entrants and even more competition."
The potential ’new entrants’ are Volkswagen brands Audi and Porsche, but also the very eager bid made by Michael Andretti, who already has teams in Indycar and Formula E.
Andretti’s famous father Mario says it is "very disappointing" that some existing teams are opposed to the new Formula 1 team bid on financial grounds.
"Gene Haas did it. He’s not a 100 percent racer - we’re 100pc racers," the 1978 world champion told Motorlat.
"Obviously we’re experiencing some resistance, and it’s very disappointing at the moment. Are we giving up? No."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is one of the most vocal opponents of the Andretti bid, but Red Bull’s Christian Horner sounds much more conciliatory.
"Andretti, Penske, they are big names and for me personally it would be fantastic," he is quoted by Osterreich newspaper.
"I think the problem will always be how to approach funding."
Horner explains that Andretti becoming the eleventh team simply means "diluting" the existing income for the other teams.
"Why should they give up 5, 10, 15 million for the good of a new team?" he said, proposing a way for ’customer’ teams to enter but forgo income under the constructors’ championship.
"This could create a third payment column for a client team and this would not divide the manufacturers," said Horner.
As for the engine rules, one of the most contentious points has been how a new entrant like Porsche - likely to become Red Bull’s works partner - is treated.
"If the new rules come in for 2026, we will be the only team next to Ferrari that can build everything from one location," he said.
Andretti F1 Team - Cadillac Racing
US congress members accuse F1 of ’cartel-like behaviour’
Andretti ’offended’ by F1’s closed-door policy
Andretti still hoping to get F1 ’ok’ for 2026 debut
GM requests meeting to discuss rejected F1 team bid
More on Andretti F1 Team - Cadillac Racing
FIA
Alonso to confront FIA over anti-Spanish bias
F1 could expand points system to P20
F1 governing body threatens to leave France
F1 accusers lack ’guts’ to confront FIA president
Opinions start to split over F1 points proposal
More on FIA
Red Bull
Ferrari, McLaren, ending Red Bull’s ’comfort zone’ era
Verstappen ’hasn’t said a word’ about Red Bull exit - CEO
Mintzlaff: Wolff should concentrate on his challenges
Vasseur says ’no comment’ as Newey eyes red or green
’New era’ dawns at Red Bull as Newey eyes Ferrari
More on Red Bull