FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed discussions with Chinese automotive manufacturers BYD and Geely over a potential Formula 1 entry, but has made it clear that the championship’s regulations will not be modified to accommodate either company. Although the governing body remains open to welcoming a 12th team, any prospective entrant must submit a credible proposal and meet the same requirements as its existing competitors.
One particularly interesting detail concerns BYD, which reportedly rejected Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s suggestion that it should acquire an established Formula 1 team. Instead, the Chinese manufacturer expressed its preference for creating its own operation, a route that would require the championship to accommodate an additional competitor following Cadillac’s arrival in 2026.
FIA sets strict conditions for a 12th Formula 1 team
Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 followed years of complicated negotiations involving the FIA and the championship’s leadership. Its arrival increased the number of teams on the grid to 11, leaving room for one additional entrant under the current maximum of 12 teams.
However, securing the final available place could prove particularly difficult. Formula 1’s budget cap, growing popularity and the increasing financial valuations of its existing teams have made the prospect of establishing an entirely new operation more complicated.
Despite those obstacles, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has not ruled out another expansion. Speaking about the possibility of welcoming an additional manufacturer, the FIA president emphasised that the governing body would only consider an application capable of demonstrating genuine value.
“The FIA can open the door to a 12th team, but do we really need one? No. We don’t need just any team; we need the right team,” he explained.
According to grandepremio.com, Mohammed Ben Sulayem also indicated that the most interesting potential candidate could come from China, a country already represented on the Formula 1 calendar.
The possibility of further grid expansion follows the FIA president’s broader interest in a 12-team Formula 1 championship, although any new entry would still need to satisfy the necessary sporting, technical and commercial requirements.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirms talks with BYD and Geely
China’s growing automotive industry has attracted increasing attention as Formula 1 considers the possibility of welcoming another manufacturer. The country already hosts a Grand Prix, and the addition of a Chinese team would represent a further expansion of its involvement in the championship.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealed that he had personally met representatives of manufacturers interested in entering Formula 1, identifying BYD and Geely among the companies involved in those conversations.
“I have met manufacturers who have expressed a desire to enter the championship. Among them are BYD and Geely,” the FIA president confirmed.
Nevertheless, those discussions have not yet resulted in a formal application. Any potential entry would need to develop into a serious project capable of meeting the governing body’s conditions.
Interest in BYD’s possible involvement has already prompted discussion about the prospect of a Chinese manufacturer-backed Formula 1 team, but the company has not secured a place on the grid.
BYD rejects suggestion to acquire an existing F1 team
One of the most revealing details from Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s discussions concerns the approach he proposed to BYD. Rather than immediately attempting to establish a 12th team, the FIA president suggested that the manufacturer could consider purchasing an existing Formula 1 operation.
BYD, however, made clear that its preference was to create an independent team.
“I suggested: ‘Why don’t you acquire a team first?’ It was BYD, so why should I hide it? And they replied: ‘No, we want to have our own team’,” Mohammed Ben Sulayem explained.
That response highlights an important distinction between the two possible routes into Formula 1. Acquiring an existing operation would allow a manufacturer to enter the championship without increasing the number of competitors, while launching an entirely new team would require approval for an additional place on the grid.
With Cadillac already having expanded the field to 11 teams, the possibility of another new operation raises questions about the conditions under which Formula 1 would accept its 12th entrant.
FIA refuses to change F1 engine regulations for Chinese manufacturers
Mohammed Ben Sulayem also addressed the technical regulations that prospective Chinese manufacturers would have to respect. Discussions about Formula 1’s longer-term future include the possibility of introducing V8 engines and reducing the hybrid component from 2030, but the FIA president insisted that such decisions could not be shaped simply to encourage a particular manufacturer to join.
“The rules will not be changed simply to favour Chinese manufacturers. We cannot do that. The regulations must remain stable,” he stressed.
The FIA president’s position is that any company seeking to compete in Formula 1 must accept the championship’s established regulatory framework rather than expect special concessions.
He also highlighted China’s significance as an automotive and technological market, while emphasising the FIA’s responsibility to ensure equal treatment for all competitors.
“There is a great deal happening in China. The market is enormous. There are Chinese manufacturers, we have had a Chinese driver, and Chinese technology is present. However, everything must happen on our terms and under our rules, which must be fair to everyone. That is also one of the FIA’s responsibilities.”
What BYD and Geely must do to secure an F1 entry
Despite the discussions, neither BYD nor Geely has formally launched an application procedure to enter Formula 1. Mohammed Ben Sulayem has nevertheless left the door open, provided that any interested manufacturer can demonstrate the credibility and feasibility of its project.
The FIA president concluded by inviting the Chinese companies to return with a sufficiently developed proposal.
“Come back with a serious proposal that shows us the plan can work,” he stated.
For now, the prospect of a Chinese manufacturer becoming Formula 1’s 12th team remains a possibility rather than a confirmed development. Cadillac’s arrival has already expanded the championship, but any further addition would require another convincing application.
The message from the FIA is therefore clear: BYD and Geely are welcome to pursue their ambitions, but neither will receive preferential treatment or regulatory concessions simply because of the potential commercial importance of bringing a Chinese manufacturer onto the Formula 1 grid.
Leave a Reply