FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem is confident that if rejected by F1, Andretti will not resort to legal action.

In recent weeks Ben Sulayem has been vocal on a number of issues, after the months of comparative silence that followed the legal threat from FOM's lawyers when he disputed the financial value of the sport.

Over the Qatar weekend, in stark contrast to the desires of the sport's owners, Ben Sulayem expressed a desire for fewer races and more teams, having, just days earlier, rubber-stamped Andretti's potential entry.

The move appears to put the FIA and F1 on a collision course, as neither the sport's owners, or the majority of the existing teams, want the newcomer, though they would be happy to accept engine partner General Motors.

It has been claimed that if its way is blocked, Andretti could resort to legal action, especially in terms of the European Union where such a move could be considered to be in violation of the anti-competition laws, but the FIA president doesn't believe this to be likely.

"No we won't have to go to court," he said. "I don't think any of us want to go to court.

"Maybe it sounds very exciting and threatening to the media," he added, "it's like, it's very, very nice to them. But it will not go to court, I am sure of that. Why should we go to court?"

Asked the reason for his confidence, he said: "There are many aspects to this. First of all, you look at, it is an American, Liberty is an American company. I read that Liberty were approving and they were saying we would like to have an 11th team. And then looking at the share price, that it went up instead of down when we declared it, that's good for them. And thirdly, to say no to an American OEM, it's very hard. In the country, it's good for business."

The FIA president also hinted that if rejected, Andretti could proceed without signing up to the same commercial agreement that ties the existing ten teams to the sport.

"If FOM refuses to have the funds, still the team can enter by the way, you know that," he said. "But, do you really think it will go that far?

"One thing I would say, I hope and I trust Stefano. Stefano doesn't come from only commercial, Stefano comes from the automotive industry and the sport also."

Ben Sulayem was also keen to play down the suggestion that his stance on the issue is merely to further antagonise the sport's owners, with whom he has not enjoyed the most easy relationship since being elected in 2021.

"It won't break it between us," he said. "We did not put FOM in a strange position. There was no, none of my people, either me or the FIA, had this intention at all. That's very clear. Our intention is to add value to the sport and to make an OEM."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 18/10/2023 14:26

"FOM does not want the Yanks winning with an American engine supplier."

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2. Posted by kenji, 18/10/2023 0:24

"According to my understanding the latest details re the Andretti entry proposal are based on the conditions already encapsulated in the FIA rules concerning new entries. It's my belief that those conditions called for a $200M one off payment to offset the dilution effect on the prize pool. If the FOM/Liberty attempt to raise the ante then surely Andretti would have due cause to challenge that decision? Maybe there will be further delaying tactics until a new Concorde is established? If they are refused then I certainly hope that Andretti seek full relief via the legal system."

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3. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 17/10/2023 17:24

"I bet there will be plenty of people ready to sue FOM on the Andretti's behalf. It will be a disaster for FOM if it goes to litigation. FOM will suffer a big loss of reputation excluding the Andretti's."

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 17/10/2023 8:01

"The value is what someone will pay shall be the whole of the law. Teams have huge investments in physical facilities & staff, but that's not what they're "worth".
This aggro & the seemingly dominant role of Liberty, all revolves around how the rights were flogged by admitted tax-cheat Ecclestone aided & abetted by his mate Mosley. The 100 year lease was presumably designed to maximise Bernie's profit, without much thought about the effects on F1.

Hopefully @ARL has a point. If F1 won't allow Andretti (or other suitable applicants) to join, the EU and other watchdogs such as UK MMC will intervene to force them to do so."

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5. Posted by Superbird70, 16/10/2023 1:33

"@ARL so in effect Liberty are just a glorified event planner
"

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6. Posted by TokyoAussie, 16/10/2023 1:11

"If FOM want to maintain the image of a "world championship," there has to be a mechanism by which new teams can enter. Otherwise, it's a private club."

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7. Posted by kenji, 16/10/2023 1:00

"I may be wrong here but I haven't seen or heard any declaration of intent from Andretti vis a vis using the courts for a final decision. Bin Sulayem is trying to hose down expectations....that is unless Andretti have privately stated to him that they won't pursue a legal challenge should the teams rejection prevail."

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8. Posted by ARL, 16/10/2023 0:59

"Potentially they might not have to. When the FIA sold the commercial rights, they did so as a result of direct action by the EU. The EU could choose to take action against Liberty over the anti-competition laws without being pushed by Andretti.

Being pedantic I believe that Liberty do not own F1, they merely have a lease for an inordinate period of time on organising events. Are there get-out clauses for the FIA in the lease for breaching international law? Without a renewal of the Concorde Agreement with the teams their lease for race rights seems fairly hollow.

Is there not an effort underway to get the teams to renew before the current Concorde Agreement terminates?"

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9. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 15/10/2023 23:19

"It’s the lawyers I feel sorry for. Terrible news for them. "

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10. Posted by Superbird70, 15/10/2023 19:48

"If a US company doesn't allow Andretti into F1 no amount of PR spin,or hype from DTS will save Miami and Las Vegas. Tyey don't need to sue. Andretti miggtcakso be able to purchase Aston Martin now that Lance has outgrown his toys."

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Andretti will not resort to legal action

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