FIA wants a Chinese team as Formula 1’s potential 12th entry
Mohammed Ben Sulayem says FOM supports expanding the grid and has met BYD and Geely; firms were urged to file official applications.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on 11 September 2026 that Formula 1 could expand by one more team and that the preferred origin for that entrant is China, adding that Formula One Management (FOM) supports growing the grid to 12 teams.
Ben Sulayem was explicit about his preference: "We don't need just any team — we need a specific team. FOM also agrees that we need a team, and that team should be from China," he said.
Manufacturers named and next steps
He identified Chinese carmakers BYD and Geely as possible candidates and said he has already held meetings with both companies. The FIA has reportedly told them to submit a formal and serious application if they wish to join the world’s premier motorsport series.
The move reflects the growing importance of the Chinese market to Formula 1: there is a Shanghai race on the calendar, major manufacturers are increasingly involved, and China has produced a driver at the top level, Zhou Guanyu.
Ben Sulayem stressed that any new entrant must comply with the same conditions and regulations that apply to all teams. If formal applications arrive, the governing bodies will evaluate them against the established entry criteria.
How quickly an additional team could appear on the grid will depend on the seriousness of submissions and the governing and commercial approval processes, but Ben Sulayem’s public endorsement signals openness from both FIA and FOM to expanding the championship.
Photo: press material from the event
