With the cost-cap saga handled and Formula 1 set for a 2023 season in which there is realistic hope of a thrilling three-way battle between Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, everything seemed to be going pretty well for Ben Sulayem.
However, discussions around the prospect of new entrants to the sport kicked off what has become a very turbulent month for the FIA boss.
After years of lobbying the FIA, successful American team owner Michael Andretti got his biggest boost yet in his F1 bid as a partnership with General Motors through its luxury brand Cadillac was welcomed by Ben Sulayem.
However, the prospective Andretti-Cadillac entry, which would be unlikely to feature on the grid until at least the 2026 season, requires sign-off from both F1 and the FIA.
F1 issued a statement saying the American team were not the only interested party and would not be guaranteed a spot on the gird.
Ben Sulayem took to his own Twitter account to release a statement expressing his “surprise” at the “adverse reaction” to the bid, with several of the sport’s 10 current teams understood to have held reservations.
Andretti would later hit out at F1 teams, insisting their resistance is “all about greed” and “not looking at what is best” for the sport.
Since 2021 there has been a $200m fee in place for any new team to join the sport, but the current entrants are understood to feel that the ‘anti-dilution fund’ figure does not reflect the recent growth of the sport and that they would be less bad off by allowing the field to be enlarged.
James Vowles, who became F1’s newest team principal when he was appointed by Williams in January, laid out what appears to be the view from much of the paddock.
“The truth behind it is that the sport financially is becoming more and more successful,” said Vowles, who left Mercedes to join Williams.
“Whoever joins in that environment needs to bring with it effectively the growth that is required in order for everyone else to be in a better position or at least a neutral position.”