FIA president offers 'nothing to hide' stance after 'hell' trip

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has insisted on the importance of Cadillac's entry into F1, claiming he was 'sent to hell and back' over the ordeal of getting a new team into the paddock.

The 63-year-old has overseen the entire process, which began in early 2023 when the FIA started the application phase for a potential eleventh team joining F1.

The motorsport governing body approved only Andretti's bid, passing the American outfit onto the final stage of securing approval from Formula 1 management (FOM).

However, the championship was not sold on Andretti and General Motors' (GM) proposal and rejected the application at the final hurdle.

Since being turned down in January of this year, significant changes have taken place behind the scenes, with GM adopting a larger role and Michael Andretti, who was spearheading the project, stepping back.

Despite the rejection and Andretti appealing to the Unites States Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate potential antitrust breaches, talks continued.

Eventually, the relevant parties were able to come together, with a rebadged GM entry getting Cadillac F1 provisionally admitted to the grid for the 2026 F1 season and beyond. GM is due to become a power unit OEM from 2028 onwards.

Ben Sulayem feels he was put through the ringer over the process, which he instigated by starting. He also confirmed he sat down with the DOJ amid the efforts from the FIA, F1 and Liberty Media to help progress the FIA-accepted application.

"It is very important. I was sent to hell and then came back," Ben Sulayem told Motorsport.com when asked how important it was getting Cadillac initially accepted. "That's the bottom line. I was sent to hell…."

"Of course, I had a meeting with them and I was questioned. I have nothing to hide," he added on the DOJ process before maintaining the positive input the FIA had throughout the undertaking to get an additional team onto the F1 grid.

"I'm an elected president. So they elected me for a reason, and I was elected based on governance, democracy and transparency. So we did what the FIA did, and I am proud of what the team did.

"Yes, it went through a lot of process, due process, due diligence, all of that. Then it came to the point where we are hoping that we can overcome all of these differences and get them in a smoother way."

Cadillac F1 entry is a 'win for motorsport'

There has been a lot made recently of the relationship between the FIA and F1, and how the two bodies operate and communication with one another.

Ben Sulayem was keen to stress the respect between the two parties, outlining their different responsibilities and championing the collaborative approach.

"Of course, FOM have their own process," he explained. "I do respect their process, it's different. They look at the commercial side, we look at the sporting side and we work together. We work together all the way."

Regardless of the difficulties encountered to reach this point, Ben Sulayem emphasised how significant the victory of expanding the F1 paddock is.

"I'm happy, really," he said. "I feel it's a win for motorsport, for Formula 1, for the FIA, for FOM, for the teams, for the fans, and for motorsport in general.

"It's not for me or anything. No, not at all. I don't see it that way. People say that. No, believe me. I only see it as a success for motorsport in general and sustaining the business."