Ben Sulayem ‘confident’ Andretti will overcome F1 resistance

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is confident that Andretti Cadillac will overcome the barrage of resistance from F1 teams and will be able to join the sport’s field of competitors.

The US outfit’s application entry was accepted by the governing body last week after it passed the FIA’s due diligence and stringent assessment phase.

However, accepting an eleventh team within F1’s ranks means dividing the sport’s prize money fund into eleven instead of ten, which would inevitably equate to less money for Grand Prix racing’s incumbent teams.

“The process was not easy, but the due diligence was done,” Ben Sulayem told Sky. “The process opening the expression of interest was a big move for the FIA.

“We have 12 teams allowed to [compete] and as you can see, most of the circuits are up to more than 12. If you look that we have the Hollywood movie going on, so we have an extra team anyway. It can only add to the sport.

“If you look at our side as the FIA, what is our mission? What is our objectives? Our mission is very clear: promote motorsport, grow motorsport and be fair. Yes, there is the commercial side of it, which we do respect.”

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The “commercial side of it” is a massive hurdle to surmount for Andretti. On the one side, there are those who argue that such a legendary name affiliated with an OEM – Cadillac parent company GM – will add value to F1’s platform.

But on the other side, the teams believe that their commercial interests are better served by adopting a rigid protectionist stance.

Ben Sulayem noted that the crux of the matter is “money”. “I cannot think of anything [else],” he said.

“We asked the right questions to Cadillac and to people, Andretti, all of them. “And then when they came back to us, just there is no way we can resist them because the team had already ticked all the boxes.

“ It is good for the sport, I am actually confident that they will go through.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.