Ben Sulayem tells Andretti to buy a team

Nicely that did not take lengthy… days after agreeing a truce with F1, FIA President, Mohammed ben Sulayem tells Andretti to purchase an current crew if it needs to enter the game.

In a 62 phrase assertion issued on 16 Could, F1 and the FIA introduced that they had been creating a brand new strategic plan for the game.

Whereas the assertion appeared to sign an finish to not less than one of many squabbles that has been damaging the game in latest instances, we commented that it additionally posed extra questions than it answered.

Nearly from the day he was elected President, Ben Sulayem has been at loggerheads with F1 over all method of matters, and on one events the attorneys had been introduced in to maintain him in line.

Up to now there have been no outward indicators of the brand new detente between the 2 events apart from a definite lack of criticism from both occasion of the opposite, no additional departures from the FIA and no extra whistle-blowers.

Certainly, if proof had been wanted of Ben Sulayem being totally on board and now working with F1, the Emeriti has now joined the rising variety of voices calling on Andretti to purchase an current crew if it needs to enter the game.

“I’ve little doubt FOM and Liberty would like to see different groups so long as they’re OEMs,” stated Ben Sulayem over the Monaco weekend, in accordance with Reuters. “I’d advise them to go and purchase one other crew, to not come because the eleventh crew.

“I really feel that some groups should be refreshed,” he added. “What is healthier? To have eleven groups as a quantity or ten and they’re sturdy?

“I nonetheless consider we should always have extra groups however not any groups. The precise groups. It isn’t concerning the quantity, it is concerning the high quality,” he stated, although many would argue the identical prniciple can be higher utilized to the variety of races. Certainly, solely a yr in the past Ben Sulayem stated he would relatively see extra groups than extra races.

“With out mentioning names, there are groups that are struggling. Fighting efficiency, struggling even with administration,” he stated. “It is about having the correct crew, to not lose an opportunity or a possibility the place somebody like GM with a PU is coming to Components One.”

Having given the inexperienced mild to Andretti final yr – when there have been no such suggestions from the FIA, which appeared to face as a lone voice in welcoming the American outfit – not solely do Ben Sulayem’s feedback come as a shock – to place it mildly – however curiously echo the feedback made by the likes of Christian Horner firstly of the Monaco weekend.

Naturally, Ben Sulayem does not point out which groups “should be refreshed”, however with discuss of every of them valued “north of £1bn” – not less than in accordance with Zak Brown – there could be no finish of present house owners keen to chunk off the hand of an Andretti or GM proffering such an enormous quantity of dosh.

And what precisely does Andretti get in return, a crew that wants refreshing versus an outfit constructed from the bottom up and which carries not one of the baggage that has left the likes of a Haas, Alpine or no matter in want of a £1bn makeover.

A crew that’s “fighting efficiency, struggling even with administration” and a crew which Andretti can be anticipated to pay £1bn for after which rebuild from the bottom up.

The attorneys had been known as in as a result of Ben Sulayem disputed the valuation positioned on the game when the Saudis gave the impression to be occupied with taking F1 off Liberty’s palms – presumably to refresh the game – so now, with the FIA President showing to agree with the £1bn valuation of the groups he should certainly agree additionally with the worth tag on the game.

Not wishing to place Andretti off totally, he makes clear that F1 would profit from an American crew, while suggesting that the present U.S. outfit does not match the invoice.

“Think about the impression. Now we have three races in America. Now we have such an enormous fan base. However we do not have a correct crew. I am so glad to have Ford in however think about having GM and picture having American drivers.”

And eventually there’s the entry payment for brand spanking new groups which presently stands at $200m, however, since Andretti appeared on the scene, has been described as too low, with the groups calling for a $600m fee to be shared amongst them to make up for the shortfall that may results of an eleventh crew.

Shock, shock, Ben Sulayem claims the present $200m payment is certainly too low.

“Now we have to have a steadiness,” he stated. “Is $200 million too low? I consider $600 is one thing the place it’s proper for the present market.”

Referring to the newfound detente with F1 and its house owners, the FIA President stated: “Peace is all the time good, you’ll be able to’t have on a regular basis pointless points.”

Revealing talks with (Liberty CEO) Greg Maffei on the brand new “Concorde Settlement” to have been constructive, Ben Sulayem stated: “We each perceive that we have to go ahead and the one strategy to go ahead is to have rather more readability between us. We’re on the identical boat regardless and what we wish is sustainability of the enterprise.

“We’re with FOM in terms of enterprise. We’re the companions and we’ve got to additionally neglect the small issues and discover a resolution how can we handle these points.”

In some ways this smacks of what we’re listening to from politicians on either side of the Atlantic at current as they search to take care of their positions, telling everybody what they need to hear with a purpose to please them and hold their jobs.

The saddest factor about that is that Ben Sulayem gave the impression to be the final line in defence, the one that may probably stop Liberty from persevering with to trip roughshod over the game. Clearly that is now not the case, he’s now on board with Greg and his gang, a completely paid-up member.