F1 COULD BE FACING A HUGE SHAKE-UP! A Chinese Automotive Giant Has Held Talks Over Joining The Grid — And Mercedes, Ferrari And Red Bull Could Soon Have A Powerful New Rival! BYD has emerged as a potential contender for a place as Formula One's 12th team, with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirming discussions involving the Chinese manufacturer and Geely. Nothing is guaranteed yet, but the prospect of a major Chinese carmaker entering F1 has already raised the stakes. A new team could bring fresh money, technology and serious competition to the championship. A NEW GIANT WANTS IN — AND F1'S BIG THREE COULD HAVE ANOTHER RIVAL TO WORRY ABOUT!

Talk of a 12th team being added to the grid has once again picked up.

F1 Grand Prix of Qatar - Sprint & Qualifying

Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, have been in talks with Chinese manufacturer BYD about becoming the sport’s 12th team. The paddock has seen plenty of change in recent years, with Audi taking over the Sauber project, while Cadillac became the 11th team on the grid at the start of the 2026 season.

There is talk about expanding that even further, with BYD being heavily tipped to become the next expansion outfit. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted that talks between BYD and partners Geely have taken place, and the head honcho views them as a viable option.

However, there are a couple of roadblocks preventing BYD from joining. Firstly, Ben Sulayem has insisted that a credible project be put forward by the manufacturer before their place on the grid is considered.

New F1 team hold talks to join grid in rival to Mercedes and Ferrari | F1 | Sport | Express.co.uk

And then there are the regulations themselves, with suggestions that several parts of the rulebook will need amending if a 12th team is to be added. Regardless, Ben Sulayem is said to be keen for a Chinese manufacturer to get involved with Formula One, which would pave the way for BYD.

Speaking at the New Economy Forum in Madrid, Ben Sulayem explained: “The FIA can open the door for a 12th team. But do we need a team? No. We don’t need a team, we need the team.

“So now we have three races in America and the United States, and we have a manufacturer, we have Haas, but we needed an OEM [manufacturer].

“So I said, and even the promoter, [Formula One Management], agrees that we need the team, and the team has to come from China.”

Adding: “I met with other manufacturers, and they came saying they wanted to join. One of them was BYD and another was Geely.

Pedestrian walks past the BYD Electric Vehicle showroom in

“But the regulations is not going to be affected only by Chinese [manufacturers]. We cannot do this. The regulations have to stay permanent, and it has to [keep] stability in it.

“I know the Chinese are leading in electrification, but is the only way to reach our target in electrification? What are we after? We are after a clean environment and clean air. So there are so many ways to reach it.

“Now we are opening to hydrogen, hybrid, electrification for the WRC [World Rally Championship] in the future, and sustainable fuel.”

And on the process of adding a 12th team, he said: “So when I had my meetings, I was very, very clear. Why don’t you take a team to start with – that was with BYD; why should I be secret about it? – and they said, ‘No, we want a team ourselves’.

“[Ben Sulayem said] ‘Fine. Then come back with a serious offer that we can see that it’s going to work’. And this is our regulations. I was very clear with them about the regulation.

F1 Leaders Red Bull, Ferrari Not Worried About Mercedes' Perceived Gains

“We have a race in China. It’s huge. The manufacturers, we have also, we had a Chinese driver [Zhou Guanyu who raced for Sauber from 2022-24] and the Chinese technology is there.

“But it has to be on our terms and our regulations, which is fair for everyone. Because that’s also the responsibility of the FIA.”