FIA will accept up to two new teams in F1! Eligibility of applicants will be decided by a new official process

After a long saga with Micheal Andretti and Cadillac, the FIA has decided to start a new official process for accepting new teams. Among other things, applicants will have to show what positive social impact they would have.

The last brand new team in Formula 1 was Haas, which joined the championship in 2016. This expanded the paddock to 11 teams for one year, but after the season the Manor Racing MRT stable finally ended and the number of teams in the sport settled at 10.

Michael Andretti, a former American racer and stable owner in the IndyCar series, is trying to change that. He has even agreed to a possible partnership with Cadillac, but his participation in the championship has not been officially confirmed.

But now the FIA has given him a unique opportunity. For the official process has begun to admit up to two brand new stables to the sport. Interestingly, the rules allow up to 13 teams. Why the FIA decided to accept only two is unknown.

Applicants will not only be subjected to a thorough technical and financial analysis. In addition to their potential competence, they will also be assessed on how the team will contribute to environmental sustainability and what positive social effect it will have.

In addition to Andretti, Asian project Panthera has also expressed interest in joining F1. Their original plan from 2019 was to enter in the last season, so now they have a new hope.

Statement from FIA President Ben Sulayem

“The growth and attractiveness of the Formula One championship is at an unprecedented level. The FIA believes the conditions are right for those who meet the required conditions to formally express their interest in joining the championship,” RacingNews365 quoted Mohammed Ben Sulayem as saying.

“For the first time ever, part of the admission criteria includes a demonstration of how teams would achieve the level of sustainability required by the FIA and how they would contribute to a positive effect on society through sport,” the FIA President continued.

“This new process is a logical extension following the positive response from engine manufacturers to the new power unit regulations coming into force in 2026, which have attracted Audi to the sport and sparked interest in other potential applicants,” he concluded.

Just today, Friday 3 February, Ford confirmed its partnership with Red Bull. Between at least 2026 and 2030, they will work together on engine design for Red Bull and AlphaTauri.

Sources: RacingNews365, F1