FIA President rejects recommendations Andretti F1 bid might finish in courtroom

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has “no concern” over Andretti being accepted onto the System 1 grid, and dismissed any recommendations that the bid might go to courtroom.

F1’s governing physique not too long ago accredited an utility for Andretti System Racing LLC to affix the F1 grid from 2025 on the earliest, having moved it to the ultimate section of the entry course of.

Having handed the technical and sporting necessities, Andretti has now entered Section 3 – which is to enter “industrial discussions” with System One Administration (FOM).

Nonetheless, the response from FOM and the ten present groups has been lukewarm all through the entry course of, with some eager to see any new crew convey ‘accretive’ components, whereas the addition of an eleventh crew would additionally cut back their complete prize pot cash.

This reluctance has led to issues that it might find yourself with anti-competitive authorities inside the EU, ought to Andretti not be accepted by FOM.

When requested by RacingNews365 on the long run timelines for this course of, Ben Sulayem informed media: “FOM has on a regular basis for them [Andretti], I’m not ready to push or to inform them what to do.

“I do respect the whole lot they do, I by no means intrude with no matter they’re doing. On the identical time, I do not like anybody interfering in our jurisdictions.

“The opposite groups have already obtained letters saying that we can’t [proceed].”

Ben Sulayem famous that the governing physique has made certain they’ve stored information ought to any EU lawsuit come to gentle.

“The FIA crew put plenty of work into it, to the purpose the place I mentioned to them: ‘Keep in mind, we now have to be clear’,” he added.

“All of those paperwork will be taken to courtroom and the EU, after which they’ll query you over ‘Why is that this crew allowed and never this one?’ So I’ve no concern.”

Ben Sulayem: We do not need to go to courtroom

The FIA President has performed down any recommendations that Andretti’s entry may very well be battled in a courtroom, regardless of the earlier tensions between the governing physique and FOM over the announcement of the tender course of.

“We do not have to go to courtroom, I do not suppose any of us would go to courtroom,” mentioned Ben Sulayem.

“Possibly it is sounds very thrilling and thrilling to the media, however we won’t go to courtroom. I am certain of that. Why ought to we go to courtroom?

“This marriage [between FIA and FOM], I’ve mentioned it earlier than and I will say it once more: I feel the Pope of the Vatican can get married 100 occasions and get divorced. However we won’t be divorced.

“The homeowners may change tomorrow, Liberty Media may promote, however FIA with Liberty go to courtroom? We won’t enable it. It isn’t for even dialogue.

Including worth to System 1

Andretti could be the second American crew to affix the grid after Haas, with the crew planning an enormous growth for its operations in with a model new racing headquarters in Fishers, Indiana.

Its entry alongside Basic Motors and its Cadillac model – additionally brings additional publicity to a market F1 has dominated within the final couple of years by one of many largest automotive producers on the earth.

A refusal of their entry may very well be seen as including additional political tensions between the FIA and FOM, however Ben Sulayem believes it should solely profit F1.

“It will not break up between us, we didn’t put FOM in an odd place,” he defined.

“Our intention is so as to add worth to the game and to make an OEM. We challenged Andretti and the primary time mentioned: ‘No, except you may have somebody [OEM] with you’

“Then they got here again with an OEM, and that [decision] was joint with the FIA and FOM.

“So I am unable to see that it could be a problem between us and FOM concerning this matter. We’re not forcing ourselves on them, and neither FOM [on us].

“I imply, I used to be comfortable after I noticed the [fan] survey and 84% mentioned they want to see an additional crew.”