Frederic Vasseur says F1 is driven by driver’s nationality rather than team’s amid the topic about 11th team joining the grid.
A lot has been said about the potential entry of Andretti Cadillac in F1. They have passed the FIA hurdle and or in discussions with FOM with regards to the commercial figures. The current lot is not so keen on having an 11th entry which will lessen the finances.
Despite the nay say from the current lot, it is eventually on FOM if they feel it is viable to have them. Ferrari chief Vasseur believes the idea to tap a particular market since the potential team is based out of a country where F1 is expanding doesn’t work this way.
He feels a team’s nationality is less of a value in F1 in most cases than driver’s. He cites the example of the growth in Netherlands due to Max Verstappen, while also notes that America is already featured by Haas as a team. What they need is an American driver.
They do have Logan Sargeant at the moment, but he hasn’t set the stage on fire to pull a massive crowd just yet. “Depend on the 11th team,” started Vasseur when asked on the grid topic. “On paper you always have room except that you are not able to go to Monaco or to Zandvoort, that’s another story.
“But for sure there is room for an 11th team if the team is bringing something to F1. We spoke about the coverage from the country of the team but for me, it’s not the right approach. The approach is that F1 is a success in the country where the drivers are successful. If you have a look today, one of the biggest successes for F1 is for the Netherlands because they have Verstappen.
“It’s more a matter of drivers than the team and the nationality of the team. You have Haas, an American team. If you are speaking about Andretti, they will join with exactly the same system as Haas. If we want to be very successful in the USA, I think it’s more a matter to bring successful American drivers than an American team.
“If we have an 11th team, then for sure, this is bringing car manufacturer then why not,” summed up Vasseur. Expanding more on the topic, the Frenchman also stressed on the situation of now than what it was the last time of Concorde Agreement.
At that time, when the grid was short, there was a provision for new teams to enter, but for now they have a good number at 10. Even on engine manufacturer’s side, they now have an ample number where soon it will be close to a scene where one manufacturer will have just the one customer team.
“We have to keep in mind that, when we opened the doors to an 11th team four-five years ago, the situation was completely different in F1,” continued Vasseur. “But at this stage, the Concorde Agreement, Ferrari was there, Mercedes was there. Honda was quite close to stop. Renault they did not know if they will extend.
“It means that there were two car manufacturers and one engine supplier who are confirmed for next 5 years. And that’s why at this stage of the discussion, we said okay if an 11th team wants to join F1 but they are not able to find an agreement with current 10 teams and they want to come as a car manufacturer or engine supplier, we will have to find a solution for benefit of F1. Today we are little bit in a different situation.
“We have 6 engine suppliers, and some of my colleagues are saying that it is too much because they are saying we won’t have two teams per engine supplier and we are not in same situation and we don’t…you always need an engine supplier but we have we have to know we are not in the same situation that we were few years ago.
“It is not on this topic that will be a huge asset on F1, now I think if the question is about coverage and media coverage, I think it is much more matter of drivers than nationality of the team,” summed up Vasseur.
Here’s F1 2023 teams’ tier order: https://formularapida.net/f1-2023-teams-categorised-in-tier-system-for-their-performances/
Here’s F1 2023 drivers’ tier order: https://formularapida.net/f1-2023-drivers-categorised-in-tier-system-for-their-performances/
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