Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has stressed Formula 1 does not need an 11th team, saying potential entrant Andretti cannot rely on its American nationality to earn an entry.
Andretti has been open about its interest in joining the F1 grid in the future, revealing its plans to link up with General Motors by entering under the Cadillac brand.
But Andretti’s hopes of having its entry bid accepted have lowered due to the lack of support from current teams and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who collectively feel a new entrant would have to bring value to the series.
While Andretti has pressed on with its F1 project by virtually agreeing an engine deal with Renault and hiring staff, Vasseur doesn’t see an all-American outfit as a good enough reason to be accepted as an 11th team.
“My position is that the 10 teams that made huge efforts even when it was tough to be on the grid, and to survive for some of them, now that if we have to welcome another team, it has to be for mega good reasons,” Vasseur said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“The fact that you have an American team is not a good reason. Because for me, first, we have an American team, thanks to Haas. And the second one is that if you want to be at the top in the country, it’s a matter of drivers.
“Have a look at what’s happened in the Netherlands. It’s the biggest success of the world today, and they don’t have a team, they have Max.
“I think first, we have a good success in the US. If you want to increase the success in the US, it’s more a matter for me to have an American driver. It’s not about the team.”
Vasseur insisted he would stand firm by his views if a major manufacturer wanted to join the F1 grid, saying: “I have to say it again, that we made collectively a big effort. If someone wants to join now, it has to be also to the benefit of everybody in the paddock.
“It means that they have to bring something to F1. I don’t think that the nationality of the team is an asset.”
F1 is expected to confirm in the coming weeks if any of the potential new entrants have been successful in their bid to enter the championship.
Hitech GP is among the other contenders interested in entering F1, with the British-based outfit recently confirming it had lodged an entry bid for 2026.
