Decision on 11th F1 team expected in September

Sportem
Sportem
9 Min Read

In the round-up: F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says he expects that a decision on any new team being granted the ability to join Formula 1 will come in September

In brief

Decision on 11th F1 team expected in September – Domenicali

After the FIA opened a formal process for applicants to join Formula 1 as new teams for either 2025 or 2026, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says that the decision on if any applicants have been successful will likely come next month.

“The FIA started the process as it is in their ability,” Domenicali said during Liberty Media’s investors yesterday. “We’re waiting for the final conclusions.

“But, as always in this discussion, we will find agreement together because, as you said, the value of the teams and the value of the business today is very, very strong. So that decision, that information will come very, very soon. I would say within the month of September.”

Palou, Herta both ready for F1 – Andretti

Michael Andretti believes that IndyCar drivers Alex Palou and Colton Herta are both capable of racing in Formula 1.

Andretti is pursuing an entry for his family-owned racing outfit to join F1 as its 11th team for 2026. He says that both IndyCar drivers have the ability to race successfully in F1.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that Alex or Colton are ready for Formula 1,” Andretti told Speed Week. They are highly talented. I would put both of them in a Formula 1 car immediately. They can definitely keep up there. Lando (Norris) was once Colton’s teammate, and they were performing at the same level. If you look at Lando in Formula 1 now, you know what Colton could also achieve.”

Vowles expects Monza to be one of Williams’ best races

Williams team principal James Vowles expects Williams to have mixed performance across the final two European rounds following the summer break at Zandvoort and Monza.

“I think the Netherlands [Zandvoort] will be a track that doesn’t suit us and I think we have to do everything within our power to get the car as high as possible, but expect it’s going to be difficult to score points there,” he explained.

“Conversely Monza, I think, could be one of the best races for us of the season so far. So we need to put the effort into making sure we prepare correctly for that event. It’s an ATA event again, which in itself brings its own complications and there’s still more work that we can do to optimise how we’re using cars and how we go through the qualifying process during that Monza weekend so there’ll be more focus on that as a result of the different format change.

“But both of them, again, provide an opportunity for us to really make sure we get everything right and walk away with points if they’re available to us.”

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