Ben Sulayem hails Cadillac entry as win for F1 after being sent to ‘hell and back’

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes Cadillac’s deliberate entry into Formulation 1 is a win for everyone – after suggesting he was despatched to ‘hell and again’ for opening up the grid.

Following an eleventh group entry course of saga that started all the best way again in February 2023, the scenario lastly seems to have a passable conclusion with F1 announcing last week that it had approved in principle a deal for GM/Cadillac to join the grid in 2026.

However the intervening interval was filled with controversy as the original idea of an Andretti-Cadillac operation was rejected by F1, which prompted the American organisation to ask the Division of Justice to research a possible antitrust breach in not accepting the squad.

Following behind the scenes efforts from Ben Sulayem, former Liberty CEO Greg Maffei and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, nevertheless, issues moved on extra lately and the revamped undertaking – which is headed by GM and no longer involves Michael Andretti – has been provisionally permitted.

For Ben Sulayem, who put himself within the firing line over selecting to open up potential new group entries in 2023, the acceptance of the Cadillac plan is massively welcome, particularly due to the criticisms he confronted.

Requested by Autosport how essential getting Cadillac into F1 was, Ben Sulayem mentioned: “It is extremely essential. I used to be despatched to hell after which got here again. That is the underside line. I used to be despatched to hell….”

Reflecting on the involvement he had to assist get issues shifting lately, Ben Sulayem mentioned that he spoke to the Division of Justice and revealed a variety of work was carried out behind the scenes by the FIA to push issues ahead.

“After all, I had a gathering with them [the DOJ],” he mentioned. “And I used to be questioned. I’ve nothing to cover.

“I am an elected president. In order that they elected me for a purpose, and I used to be elected primarily based on governance, democracy and transparency. So we did what the FIA did, and I’m pleased with what the group did.

“Sure, it went by way of a variety of course of, due course of, due diligence, all of that. Then it got here to the purpose the place we hope that we are able to overcome all of those variations and get them in a smoother method.”

Whereas the FIA and FOM haven’t seen eye-to-eye on each matter since Ben Sulayem took over on the finish of 2022, he mentioned there was good collaboration between them on this matter to lastly get the Cadillac concept throughout the road.

“After all, FOM have their very own course of,” he mentioned. “I do respect their course of, it is completely different.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Formulation One Group, on the grid

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

“They take a look at the business aspect, we take a look at the sporting aspect and we work collectively. We work collectively all the best way.”

He added: “I am completely happy, actually. I really feel it is a win for motorsport, for Formulation 1, for the FIA, for FOM, for the groups, for the followers, and for motorsport on the whole.

“It is not for me or something. No, in no way. I do not see it that method. Folks say that. No, imagine me. I solely see it as successful for motorsport on the whole and sustaining the enterprise.”