The FIA is considering expanding Formula 1 to 12 teams, with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirming discussions with Chinese automotive giants BYD and Geely over a possible future entry. Following Cadillac’s arrival as the championship’s 11th team in 2026, the governing body’s attention has turned towards China, although any additional entrant would have to demonstrate significant competitive and commercial value before being accepted.
Formula 1 has not featured 12 teams on its starting grid since 2012, when Caterham, Marussia and HRT were still competing in the championship. HRT disappeared at the end of that season, and the grid subsequently became smaller. Fourteen years later, Cadillac’s introduction has restored the number of teams to 11, but Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes there could still be room for further expansion.
FIA confirms talks with BYD and Geely over a 12th Formula 1 team
In an interview with The National, Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed his willingness to consider a 12th Formula 1 team, preferably backed by a Chinese manufacturer. BYD and Geely have emerged as the two principal names under consideration, with the FIA having already established contact with both companies.
The possibility of a Chinese manufacturer entering Formula 1 would represent another significant development for a championship that has already expanded with Cadillac’s arrival on the 2026 Formula 1 grid.
However, Mohammed Ben Sulayem stressed that simply adding another competitor would not be enough. Any new team would need to offer genuine benefits to Formula 1, both on the track and from a business perspective.
“To add a 12th team, it must bring real value to Formula 1, both competitively and commercially. A major Chinese manufacturer would bring new technologies, investment and access to an important automotive market, strengthening the championship’s connection with fans in China and across Asia,” the FIA president explained.
The potential involvement of BYD or Geely is therefore being considered not only in terms of increasing the number of cars competing in the championship, but also for the wider opportunities that a major Chinese automotive manufacturer could bring to Formula 1.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem insists money alone will not guarantee an F1 entry
Despite his openness towards another team joining the championship, Mohammed Ben Sulayem made it clear that financial resources alone would not be sufficient to secure a place on the Formula 1 grid.
The FIA president emphasised that any applicant would have to demonstrate the ability to compete at the highest level while making a meaningful contribution to the sport’s long-term development: “Any new entrant must demonstrate that it can compete at the highest level and contribute to the long-term future of the sport. The decision on a 12th team must always be based on the quality of the proposal.”
These requirements would be particularly important in assessing whether a new manufacturer-backed project could justify expanding the championship beyond the 11 teams currently competing.
The FIA’s position is therefore not simply to encourage additional investment, but to identify a potential entrant capable of strengthening Formula 1 from both a sporting and commercial standpoint.
BYD wants its own Formula 1 team rather than buying an existing operation
One particularly interesting detail concerns the approach previously discussed with BYD. During earlier conversations, Mohammed Ben Sulayem had suggested that the Chinese manufacturer could consider purchasing an existing Formula 1 team rather than establishing an entirely new operation.
However, according to the FIA president, the company’s response was clear: “No, we want a team of our own.”
That position is significant because acquiring an established operation would avoid the need to create an additional place on the grid. Launching a completely new team, by contrast, would require Formula 1 to accommodate a 12th competitor.
BYD’s preference for an independent entry therefore brings the wider debate about championship expansion directly into focus, particularly after Cadillac became the latest manufacturer-backed project to join the sport.
Why a 12th F1 team still faces major obstacles
Despite the discussions involving BYD and Geely, there is currently no formal application from either manufacturer, and the FIA has not launched a new selection process for a 12th Formula 1 team.
That distinction is important. The governing body’s willingness to consider another entrant does not mean that an expansion has been approved or that either Chinese company is guaranteed a place on the grid.
Another obstacle is Formula 1’s longstanding reluctance to increase the number of participating teams, particularly because adding another competitor would mean sharing the championship’s revenues among more entrants.
This financial consideration has historically complicated discussions about expansion and remains an important issue that would need to be addressed before another team could join.
For the moment, the championship continues with the 11-team structure established by Cadillac’s entry. The American manufacturer’s arrival has also created a new connection with Ferrari through its Ferrari power unit supply arrangement.
The interest surrounding BYD and Geely nevertheless indicates that the FIA is prepared to explore another expansion if a sufficiently strong project emerges.
Whether Formula 1 eventually returns to a 12-team grid will depend on the quality of any future application, its potential benefits to the championship and the willingness of the sport’s stakeholders to accommodate an additional competitor.
For now, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has left the door open to a Chinese Formula 1 team, but discussions with manufacturers remain at an exploratory stage, with no formal entry procedure currently under way.
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