Lewis Hamilton conceded there would be some people who would not “be happy” with his support of the American-based Andretti Cadillac Racing team’s bid to enter the Formula One.
It comes after the FIA on Monday said it had given Andretti Formula Racing the green light to become F1’s 11th team after putting forward its application for the third and final selection phase.
It was the only one of four applicants to pass the FIA’s review process, but its place on the grid remains subject to it striking a commercial agreement with F1 rights holder Liberty Media.
The 10 current F1 teams are known to be lacking in enthusiasm for an 11th entry because it would mean the dilution of revenue and prize money.
They are also understood to believe that the entry fee of $200 million is insufficient compensation.
Hamilton though is a fan, telling reporters ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix that he thinks it is a “great” idea.
Watch every Practice, Qualifier & Race of The 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Live and Ad-Break Free in racing on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >
“I think Formula One, I’ve always felt that there weren’t enough cars on the grid,” Hamilton said.
“There’ll definitely be people that won’t be happy for me to be so supportive of it, but I think it’s great.
“It’s an opportunity for more jobs, it’s another two seats available for a potential female driver to come through.
“It opens up more possibilities and I think it will be more exciting.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate George Russell sat on the fence, declaring he was not “for or against” a new team entering the sport but added it needs to be a “quality outfit”.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who has dominated the majority of races this year, said more competition would “probably be a nice thing”.
But the Red Bull driver also did not want to be too enthusiastic in his support for the bid, preferring to leave it to the FIA.
‘Scared the crap out myself!’: Kostecki | 01:28
“It’s always very hard for me to comment on these kind of things because I’m not a team owner, I’m a racing driver,” Verstappen said.
“Of course in terms of competition it would probably be a nice thing.
“That’s why it’s very hard to understand, from what I’ve seen and heard it looks very professional and they want to come in and of course with the Andretti name they are a big name.
“They already have achieved a lot in motorsport so I would definitely like to see them here but it’s not up to me to decide these kind of things.
“It’s the FIA, the teams, F1 altogether they have to make that call. They know the situation best and they will make the decisions.”
Fernando Alonso had a similar take to Verstappen, describing Andretti as a “great team and name to add to Formula One” but also happy to leave it up to F1 powerbrokers.
Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll though made it clear he does not support the American-based team’s bid.
The Canadian said the sport had no need for an additional team to strengthen the grid despite their application having been approved by the FIA, motorsport’s governing body.
‘This track suits us well!’: Mostert | 03:22
“I think F1 at the moment, the business is on fire. The sport has never been in a better place,” he told Sky Sports.
“I believe if it isn’t broken, you don’t need to fix it. So, I’m a strong believer that it’s working really well with 10 teams right now and I believe that is the way it should stay.”
The last team to successfully join the grid was another American outfit Haas Racing in 2016.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok said he could see the situation turning into “a bit of a political storm”.
“Out of the 10 teams here on the grid I’ve only heard a couple being neutral and the rest being against having another team,” he said.
“They view Formula 1 now as a franchise model. They see 10 teams here; each of them views their own team as a business of a certain value and as soon as you add an 11th one in it dilutes their value.
“So fundamentally I think it’s an economic viewpoint that they are taking, looking at their own interest.
“I think Formula 1 as a whole are looking at it and going ‘we need to protect the interest of the 10 people who have invested in the sport, grown it to the level it’s at the moment’. Although we haven’t had any firm answers out of F1 yet, they are going through their own process of evaluating Andretti, at the moment the indications are that F1, the teams, and F1 as an organisation don’t feel like they need an 11th team.”
