The question of expanding the Formula 1 grid regularly returns to the centre of debate, resurfacing whenever the system shows even the slightest theoretical opening. The arrival of an eleventh team like Cadillac has inevitably reignited a broader discussion: is increasing the grid from 22 to 24 cars really a realistic scenario?
Formula 1 is a compact structure
From a regulatory point of view, the answer would be yes. The rules actually allow for up to twelve teams on the grid. However, the operational and political reality of Formula 1 tells a very different story. The long and complex process that led Cadillac to secure its place on the grid was far from straightforward, as shown by the Andretti saga. This is a clear sign of a system that, while not formally closed to newcomers, strongly protects its internal balance.
Within this context sits the new Concorde Agreement, recently signed and valid until 2030. This agreement effectively locks in the current 11-team structure, guaranteeing a financial distribution considered satisfactory by all parties involved. This is the real core of the issue: the current model is seen as profitable and sustainable, and both Liberty Media and the teams appear reluctant to change it.
The idea of a twelfth team therefore clashes with resistance that is not only technical, but primarily economic and strategic. Expanding the grid would mean redistributing resources, visibility, and political influence. At present, such an option finds very little fertile ground within the paddock.
F1 at 12 teams: some still believe in it
And yet, as often happens in Formula 1, something continues to move beneath the surface. Recently, the candidacy of Mexican businessman Rafael Villagómez has emerged, with interest in building a project capable of entering the sport. This idea has found early acknowledgment in the comments of Otmar Szafnauer, an experienced paddock figure now involved with Van Amersfoort Racing.
“The owner and I were considering the possibility of collaborating on a Formula 1 team, something that could still happen if an interesting selling opportunity arises or if the possibility of creating a twelfth team opens up,” the former Alpine team principal explained in statements reported by GP Blog.
These words, while not pointing to an imminent project, confirm that interest in joining Formula 1 remains alive among investors and industry figures. However, the condition is clear: either a political opening for a twelfth team appears, or entry would need to come through acquisition, a route that would bypass current resistance while preserving the existing 11-team structure.
Formula 1 once again finds itself balancing between expansion and preservation. On one side, regulations that would allow growth; on the other, an economic model that pushes in the opposite direction. As long as this balance continues to guarantee stability and profit, the idea of a 24-car grid will remain more of a discussion point than a realistic future scenario.
The tension between F1’s regulatory capacity for 12 teams and the financial protectionism of the Concorde Agreement defines the sport’s modern era. While investors like Rafael Villagómez and experienced figures like Otmar Szafnauer keep the conversation alive, the “closed shop” nature of the current 11-team grid ensures that any new entry will have to prove an extraordinary level of value to the existing ecosystem.
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