FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed his preference for which manufacturer should take the final available spot on the Formula 1 grid.
After facing resistance from Liberty Media and the current ten teams, Ben Sulayem successfully pushed for the addition of Cadillac as F1's eleventh team from 2026 onwards.
Now, he has set his sights on securing a twelfth entry.
"It's been my dream for the last two years that the big countries should have a presence in Formula 1," Ben Sulayem told Le Figaro.
"The United States will be with General Motors. The next step is to welcome a Chinese manufacturer. We already have a driver," he added, referring to Guanyu Zhou, who will serve as a Ferrari reserve in 2025.
While advocating for more teams, Ben Sulayem has also voiced concerns about the length of the F1 calendar, suggesting the current schedule may be excessive.
"I think 24 is a bit too much," he said.
"I said it and was attacked by many media outlets. But 20 grands prix is enough."
However, he acknowledged that the number of races is ultimately dictated by Liberty Media, which manages the sport's commercial rights.
"It is not the FIA's responsibility," he admitted.
Despite his concerns, Ben Sulayem believes Liberty Media is doing a "great job" growing the sport, though he cautioned against losing touch with F1's European roots.
"It is good when Formula 1 opens up new markets and new countries," he said. "But we must not forget where the story began.
I couldn't be happier if F1 returned to France, but also to Germany," he added.
