Won\’t it be fun when there will not just be Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari but more teams with strong cars? Not just ten but 11, 12, 13, and more on the grid might be the future of Formula One, as FIA has already expressed its aim. In the 2026 engine development regulations, FIA has allowed registrations for new teams. So far, only Sauber\’s Audi has registered as a new team that will be replacing Alfa Romeo in 2026.
So there will be no increase in counting with Audi\’s entry. But FIA has extended the deadline for registration with hopes for other companies to show interest. And probably, they succeeded in bringing Andretti\’s attention to Formula One. Mario Andretti is ready to launch its own team in 2026, making 11 teams on the grid. However, Mercedes and Red Bull are very much against the new entries.
Mercedes principal Toto Wolff and his rival Red Bull\’s principal Christain Horner have the power to block the new entries as they have a Veto rule in command. Cadillac Andretti\’s registration in Formula One as a new team depends upon the previous team\’s agreement. FIA has announced that if the already existing F1 teams\’ bosses are considering the new entries as not suitable, then no application will be accepted.
FIA Won\’t Go Against Toto Wolff And Christian Horner For Andrett\’s Entry In Formula One
The governing body of Formula One has released a document recently. \”For the avoidance of doubt, no new applicants have an automatic right of entry in Formula One for the championship. And the maximum number of teams participating in the championship up to and including the 2025 season is capped at 12,\” said FIA.
It explained that the existing F1 teams would be given more priority over new registrations. In case no application is considered suitable by the FIA or by any Formula One Commercial Rights Holder. Then no new F1 team or teams will be selected for further contests.
When Cadillac/Andretti showed interest in joining Formula One as the 11th team, the already existing team bosses did not sound enthusiastic. At first, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff came out to speak against it. He said, \”If a team joins F1, how can you make sure that you are bringing in more money than it is actually costing?
One more team means a 10% dilution for everybody else.\” On the other hand, Christian Horner also came out to stand in support of Wolff. He said that all the previous existing teams would have to pay for the 11th team. As it would reduce the prize money, Andretti\’s entry is not acceptable for Horner.
Wolff and Horner definitely hold an important role in Formula One. They have commercial rights, which stand for speaking on matters including the new applicants. So far, looking at Toto Wolff And Christain Horner\’s statements, it is clear that they stand against Andretti\’s coming. So FIA will never go against them, and Andretti will probably never get a place in the sport.