Aston Martin F1 team owner Lawrence Stroll believes that Formula 1 should remain limited to just ten teams, the Canadian pushing back on Andretti's endeavor to join the grid as an eleventh outfit.
Earlier this week, Andretti's F1 plans received the full backing of the FIA which gave its approval to the US outfit's application after a stringent evaluation process and due diligence conducted by the governing body.
Andretti's next step – or Phase 3 as the FIA has called it – is to enter into commercial negotiations with commercial rights holder Liberty Media and Formula One.
Most of the sport's teams have consistently argued in favour of a status quo, enforcing their protectionist stance by rightly stating that expanding the grid to 11 teams would dilute their current pool of prize money.
Since the FIA's green light to Andretti, Stroll is the first member of F1's establishment to publicly express his opposition to the idea of accepting an eleventh team within its ranks.
The Canadian billionaire was speaking during Wednesday's press conference following Aston Martin's announcement of its return in 2025 to top class sportscar racing and to the Le Mans 24 Hours with its Valkyrie Hypercar.
"The business is on fire, F1's never been in a better place and I believe if it ain't broke, you don't need to fix it," Stroll told Sky Sports F1.
"So I'm a strong believer that it's working really well with 10 teams right now, and believe that's the way it should stay."
"If it ain't broke, you don't need to fix it" 🔧
Lawrence Stroll believes that things are working 'really well' with 10 teams on the grid and that it should stay that way 👇 pic.twitter.com/vy9qOTOjC5
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 5, 2023
Stroll cited Formula 1's growth in the United States, a host to three races this year – Miami, Austin and Las Vegas – as evidence to support his claim that the sport has never been healthier.
"There's never been more fans or spectators, the audience is the highest it's ever been," he added.
"I continue to see substantial growth, particularly in the United States which is the largest consumer market in the world.
"As you know, we now have three races in the States, with our second year in Miami, we're going to Las Vegas in November. So I see tremendous growth possibilities going forward."
Oddly, the remarkable growth enjoyed by F1 in the United States cited by Stroll is precisely why the presence on the grid of a second American team after Haas might benefit F1 as a whole.
Andretti is up against a formidable resistance, but Formula 1 will need to properly justify in terms other than financial why one of the greatest names in motorsport should not be awarded the privilege of joining the elite.
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