Mohammed Ben Sulayem: The ones clapping about Cadillac now are the ones who were against it
F1 NewsSaturday, 16 May 2026 at 12:00
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed the bruising political battle behind Cadillac’s arrival as Formula 1’s 11th team, recalling how he was personally targeted during what he described as a “severe” campaign against the project.
Speaking in a wide ranging interview with Forbes reporter Matt Craig on YouTube, released on Thursday, Ben Sulayem said the fight to bring General Motors and Cadillac onto the grid exposed deep resistance from teams, sections of the media and commercial interests worried about losing revenue.
“Friction? Come on. You are very kind to say it,” Ben Sulayem replied when asked about opposition to Cadillac’s 11th entry saga. “Friction is an underestimation.”
The Emirati explained that the idea was born from Formula 1’s growing footprint in the United States: “We are talking about three races in the United States, but there was no presence. The idea came when I was here a few years ago and I said why not? The FIA will open the expression of interest.”
Ben Sulayem said the backlash shocked him, particularly as he believed adding a major American manufacturer was essential for Formula 1’s long term growth: “When I said it, my God. It was as if I had done something wrong."
Ben Sulayem: I never expected that much aggression against the FIA
"I said I just wanted to open it up for debate," recalled Ben Sulayem. "No, you cannot do this they said. The attack on me lasted three and a half years. If you ask me would I do it again, yes. But I really did not know it would be that awful.”
The FIA President suggested financial fears drove much of the hostility from existing competitors, who stood to receive a smaller share of Formula 1’s prize money with an 11th entrant joining the grid: “Everybody was against it because it is a piece of cake. Everybody wants a share of it."
Ben Sulayem also took aim at sections of the British media, claiming criticism became deeply personal during the process: “I never expected that much aggression against the FIA and against me personally. Especially the British media attacked me severely. They accused me of everything. Fabrication.”
The FIA President insisted logic was always on Cadillac’s side, particularly with General Motors behind the bid" “I said no. They said not over their dead bodies, but I said, excuse me, where is the logic in not having Cadillac? Imagine saying no to GM. They took us to court and everything, but it did not work.”
Now that Cadillac’s entry is secured, Ben Sulayem noted what he sees as a dramatic shift in attitude from critics who once opposed the project: “Now everybody is clapping for Cadillac, as if they were the ones who supported it. The ones clapping now are the ones who were against it.”
Now for that 12th team?
Despite the bitterness surrounding the battle, Ben Sulayem maintained that the FIA’s responsibility was not simply to add more teams, but to ensure any expansion strengthened the sport commercially and competitively.
“It is not about adding a team,” he explained. “It is about adding the right team that enhances the business.” He also left the door open for a future 12th team, although only under strict conditions: “Is the 12th team going to add value to Formula 1? It has to be done for a good reason.”
“We have to look first at the process with Cadillac. Was it worth it for motorsport in general, Formula 1 and sustaining the business? Then we go forward if there is the right team.”
Although Cadillac’s arrival is now being celebrated across the paddock, the interview made clear the political battle surrounding Formula 1’s expansion remains a deeply personal issue for Ben Sulayem.
More than simply adding an 11th team, the FIA President framed the fight as a broader struggle over who ultimately shapes the future of the sport, with the governing body determined to assert its authority against growing commercial and competitive pressures within Formula 1.
Now for that 12th team!
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