by F1 correspondent Michael Butterworth
SINGAPORE, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has reiterated his desire to see a Chinese manufacturer enter Formula 1, suggesting that acquiring an existing team could offer a faster route into the championship than establishing a new entrant.
Speaking to selected media, including Xinhua, ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem said China's growing automotive industry and motorsport involvement made it an attractive prospect for F1, but stressed that any new entrant would have to meet the championship's requirements.
"We would like a big team from China because I feel that's the leverage," he said. "You cannot exclude Asia. Asia has many things, and Asia-Pacific has the number of people, the love of the sport and the manufacturers.
"It will add a lot to Formula 1."
Ben Sulayem has previously advocated expanding the F1 grid to 12 teams, following the arrival of American manufacturer Cadillac as the championship's 11th entrant this year.
However, he said adding another team was not necessarily the objective, suggesting that a Chinese manufacturer could instead acquire an existing operation, following the example of German carmaker Audi, which took over Sauber ahead of the 2026 season.
"It's about the right team," he said. "If they come in and take another team, I'll be more than happy."
"It doesn't mean we will have a 12th team," he added, suggesting that acquiring an established outfit could "shorten the time" required to enter F1.
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is said to have already explored a potential move into F1, with senior executives holding discussions with leading figures in the sport.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li has reportedly met Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, while also holding exploratory talks with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
Despite the discussions, BYD has not announced plans to enter F1.
Another Chinese manufacturer expanding its international motorsport involvement is Geely, which entered the FIA TCR World Tour this year, fielding four Preface race cars through Geely Cyan Racing, with Chinese driver Ma Qinghua among its lineup.
Geely is also reportedly in advanced negotiations to take over Alpine's Hypercar program in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2027, following the French manufacturer's decision to withdraw from that series at the end of this year.
Asked about Geely, Ben Sulayem confirmed that he had met a senior executive from the company during a visit to China.
"I met with the boss, with the president, in China when I was there for Formula 1," he said, without indicating whether the meeting involved a concrete proposal to enter F1.
Ben Sulayem acknowledged that efforts to expand the F1 grid had previously encountered resistance from existing teams, partly because of concerns about sharing the sport's commercial revenues among more competitors.
"There was a lot of resistance. It's not something to hide," he said. "It was about money."
Nevertheless, he argued that additional manufacturers could help expand F1's commercial appeal rather than simply dividing existing revenues among more participants.
Beyond F1, Ben Sulayem also said he wanted to encourage more Chinese companies to become suppliers to motorsport, as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and make racing more accessible.
"When I came to the FIA, there were no companies from China involved in any tender the FIA would do," he said.
He argued that Chinese suppliers should have the opportunity to compete for contracts provided their products met the FIA's technical and safety requirements.
"If they meet the specifications and the quality is up to our regulations, you give it to everyone," he said.
"Accessibility comes from affordability."
Ben Sulayem also highlighted the FIA's growing relationship with China, which will host the federation's annual general meeting and annual prize-giving ceremony in Shanghai this December.
He said the idea emerged during a meeting with Shanghai's mayor in 2024, adding that the relationship extended beyond major international events to cooperation on motorsport development, mobility and road safety.
"China adopted us, embraced us, and we are going," he said.
"But it's not only about the General Assembly and the awards. It's about the day-to-day dealings with China and its federation in terms of sport and mobility." ■