Noted this article:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ ... a716&ei=16
The element that got my attention is this:
"While F1 and many of the teams have expressed their misgivings about Andretti’s arrival, Ben Sulayem said even a lack of approval from F1 doesn’t mean that Andretti can’t take up a place on the grid."
“What I’ve heard from the legal side is that they [FOM] can say no to the financial [element],” Ben Sulayem told Speedcafe.com.
“But the licence [to compete in F1] belongs to the FIA, so they [Andretti] would be running, but without getting any money, and I don’t think that would happen.
“For me, I am optimistic they [FOM] will not say no, but anything can happen. I just hope they don’t say no because it is so good for business, so good to sustain motorsport.”
As for the existing teams not wanting Andretti to join, due to a dilution of the prize money pot – despite Andretti having to pay an anti-dilution entry fee of €200 million, which is likely to rise considerably under the new Concorde Agreement for 2026 – Ben Sulayem was dismissive of their involvement.
“Let’s ask ourselves a question – why do Michael Andretti and GM need the teams’ support? I don’t understand,” Ben Sulayem told Speedcafe.com.
“Do they [the teams] have any say in the admission?”
To the suggestion that the teams’ input is then “irrelevant”, Ben Sulayem responded: “To this, yes.
“In the sport, they are an element, and everybody has the right to express their feeling toward it, but how can you refuse GM? I don’t understand. Just why?”
Does this mean that Andretti can join and race, but just not be a part of the fund (and not have to pay the anti-dilution entry fee of 200 million)?