Horner: 'Logistically' challenging for F1 to accept new entrants
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says money isn't the only contentious point surrounding the entry of new teams in F1, insisting there are also logistical issues to consider.
After launching its 'Expression of Interest' process last February, the FIA is set to consider the legitimacy of several projects submitted by potential new entrants.
Andretti-Cadillac's plans to enter F1 have been well chronicled, while an Asian venture called LKY SUNZ – an apparent revised version of the often cited Panthera project – has also put itself on the ranks, as has a Saudi-backed endeavor spearheaded by form BAR team boss Craig Pollock.
However, from the outset, Formula 1 and most of its ten franchises have taken a dim view of Andretti's plans – let alone of other projects - as adding an eleventh outfit to the sport's current field of competitors would inevitably dilute F1's prize money fund.
As a partial compensation measure for such dilution, F1 has imposed a one-off $200 anti-dilution fee that also serves as a dissuasive barrier of entry for prospective candidates who don't have the technical or financial clout to compete in F1.
But Horner says that money isn't the only issue to consider.
"I think the issues remain the same as 12 months ago, both fiscally – what is the incentive for an existing team or franchise to accept an 11th entrant, and then ultimately, who pays?" Horner said in Miami.
"I mean, if it dilutes the income of the 10, it’s like turkeys voting for Christmas. Why would they (the teams) do that?
"You know, are Liberty prepared to pay and fund an 11th team? Are the FIA prepared to reduce their fees to help accommodate it? So, you know, there are all the financial aspects.
"But I think beyond that…with the way that the sport has now developed, if you look at the pit lane, for example, here or somewhere like Monaco, Zandvoort, or some of the circuits that we’re now racing at, where would we be able to accommodate an 11th team?
"I think that in itself, just operationally…where do we put the motorhomes? Where do we put the support? Where do the trucks go?
"I just think it would be an incredibly difficult thing to be accommodated with the way that the sport has currently evolved as well."
Sitting alongside Horner, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff suggested that adding a new team to the grid is first and foremost about adding value to F1's existing platform.
"First of all, we have no say in this," Wolff said. "If we’re being asked… Our opinion is being asked. But we’re not part of the process of choosing a team or not.
"The opinion that we have expressed is that it’s very difficult in Formula 1 to perform. It has taken us many years to be where we are.
"We’ve gone through really difficult times where Formula 1 wasn’t the blockbuster it is today, and therefore whoever enters the sport, I think it would be beneficial for all of us if they can really bring something new to the show, if it can help us to increase our audiences or if there is lots of marketing dollars that are being invested, similar to what we have done over the years — Red Bull and Mercedes, sitting here, I mean…hundreds of millions.
"And if that were the case, I think we need to be all open-minded and say, ‘How can we contribute to making that happen?’
"But again, we’re not part of the governance, and so I would very much hope that we find someone — if we decided to go for another team — that somebody can really leverage what we have today and make it even greater."
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