Stefano Domenicali was the latest guest on the Beyond The Grid podcast. Within the episode, the CEO of Formula 1 discussed the direction the sport is taking: for the future, an action-packed world is expected, where the goal is to have all teams on an equal level to enhance the show, with the idea of attracting even more young fans and new people.
In the course of this discussion, the topic of the new Concorde Agreement emerged, as the current one expires in 2025. Among the anticipated changes, what is being rumored in the media is the possible entry of an eleventh team onto the grid. The most popular name is Andretti, which has expressed its interest in Formula 1 on multiple occasions, but there isn’t much information available about the negotiations.
Riding the wave of this curious fact, presenter Tom Clarkson asked the former team principal of Scuderia Ferrari what he believed to be the perfect number of teams on the grid. “There are different positions and also legal constraints on what we can say or not. We must take into account not only whether a new team can bring stable and long-lasting value to the sport but also how Formula 1 will grow. If the trend continues as we see it now, I believe that 10 teams are more than enough for the show, the business, and the on-track attention,” responded Stefano Domenicali.
“At the moment, we and the FIA are working on this matter for the future, to then put it on the table with a new Concorde Agreement in 2025,” the Italian continued.
“In the past, there were teams that entered and exited with a break-even budget, whereas now the teams are stable, they have their own profit, and the ability to be competitive. So, in the coming months, we will address the question of whether we want to stick with 10 teams or if we can open ourselves up to others. However, I don’t think I would like to see more than 20 cars because even when there is a battle between two constructors or two drivers, it is still interesting. Can you imagine what it would be like if they were all on the same level? The competition would be mind-blowing. So, let’s wait. I’m not against someone’s entry, but it has to be the right one.” – the former Ferrari boss pointed out during his recent interview.
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These words, after months of great openness, seem to close the doors for new arrivals in Formula 1, aligning more with what prominent team principals like Christian Horner or Toto Wolff have often stated.
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