Formula 1 at Capacity, Says Stefano Domenicali
After welcoming an 11th team to the paddock, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that the sport is at full capacity. Cadillac joined the grid ahead of the 2026 season, and Domenicali has said that fans who hope to see a 12th team will have to quench their desires, as there is no more room.
Adding an 11th team already brings a new level of excitement to race weekends, and for Domenicali, it stretches the current limits of F1. With more teams, there are fears that paddocks like Monaco’s will suffer logistical issues. While some fans may be disappointed, on a general note, 11 teams on the grid means bigger race outcomes.
With more cars on track, the competition becomes less predictable and race outcomes even harder to call. For fans who like to follow the action beyond the track, this unpredictability creates fresh opportunities in sports betting. On no-KYC platforms, placing bets anonymously allows fans to explore different outcomes and enjoy testing the odds in a way that matches F1’s fast-paced drama.
The new F1 grid will welcome Cadillac in 2026, making it the first time since the 2016 season that there have been 22 cars on the grid. Cadillac has previously tried to get on the grid in 2024 through an Andretti-led bid but was turned down by Formula One Management (FOM). Although the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) had agreed to the bid, FOM turned it down as it wasn’t sure of the value that the Cadillac team would bring to the franchise.
Cadillac’s new bid was backed by General Motors, and the board was able to convince the FOM to reconsider its initial decision. Domenicali added that the FOM saw changes in the revised plan, which included significant investment and a 10-year road map to guide the team. He explained that the FOM spoke in favour of the bid and showed the value the project could bring to the system.
The new Cadillac team will use Ferrari’s powertrains for now while General Motors develops its own engines, which will power the cars from 2029. Behind the wheel, Cadillac lines up popular faces Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas for the 2026 season. The team will be led by Graeme Lowdon, who will serve as team principal.
With Cadillac joining the grid, Domenicali has explained that more teams are pushing to join in the future. Former F1 team, Caterham, has recently stated that they want to compete in F1, and there are suggestions that more teams could join in the near future. However, Domenicali has quickly shut down these suggestions.
While race tracks could take more cars, just like F3, which has 30 cars on the same grids, Domenicali’s argument is that paddocks may not accommodate all the teams, and he isn’t going to force 12 teams into the current on-site facilities. He mentioned that, as a sport, F1 needs to be cautious as it has hit its limits logistically.
He added that while the sport is growing in value, more people are looking to invest in teams. The goal for now is to protect what has been built. He also advised that the best way for new investors to get on the grid is to buy an existing team.
As of November 2024, the average value of an F1 team is around $2.31 billion. With teams now worth billions, F1’s main focus is keeping the grid strong and protecting its value.
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The same pit buildings had enough garage space for 12 teams in 2010-12, so they certainly still have enough space for the same total team amount.