For the first time since the 2016 season, there will be more than ten cars on the grid. Cadillac will join the sport for the 2026 season, taking the total number of teams up to eleven. However, the FIA are keen to add a twelfth team to the grid.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Suyalem has opened the door for a Chinese team to join F1. This would increase revenue for the sport and add another two seats for drivers to fill. However, the Emirati has stated that bringing in another new team “has to be worth it”.
FIA says that a twelfth team must “add value” to F1
Cadillac’s entry into F1 will bring significant value to the sport. F1 has had continued growth plans in the US, and a strong American brand like Cadillac is likely to pull in new fans and sponsors. FIA President Mohammed Ben Suyalem is hoping this will also be the case with a Chinese team.
He said: “If there is a team from China, let’s say, and FOM approved it, and I am 100 per cent they will approve it, wouldn’t it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes. Do we have to fill up [the grid] with a 12th team for the sake of filling up [the grid] with a 12th team? No. It will be the right team.”
“We are not here to upset the other teams, but it won’t be just for the sake of doing it. It has to be worth it. For us, the [12th] team has to add value to sustaining the business of Formula 1, and the business of Formula 1 is not about the income; it’s about the longevity of the championship itself.”
F1 wants to tap into the world’s biggest markets in America and China. With two teams from the US confirmed in the sport, the Chinese market is still available. F1 is starting to grow in China, with the return of the Chinese GP in 2024 a boost. Driver Zhou Guanyu also contributed to the growth. Now would be the time for a Chinese team to enter the sport, to try and hit peak popularity.
The process of a new team joining F1
To begin the application process to join the F1 grid, the FIA will launch an Expression of Interest (EoI). This is to gauge the interest and suitability of the applicant and is used as an initial screening.
Applications are assessed based on financial viability and technical expertise. They also have to demonstrate how they will achieve net-zero carbon by 2030. A new team will be required to pay $200 million (as of 2025) as the new team entry fee, to help with the diluted prize pot.
Cadillac F1’s $750 Million Gamble to Join the Formula 1 Grid
The cost of running an F1 team is also high. Teams have to invest heavily in research and development to design and build their cars. The infrastructure to do so can cost in the region of $250 million. It is estimated that Cadillac will spend around $750 million before one of its cars hits the track.
