F1: Fittipaldi says Domenicali is wrong

F1 chief Stefano Domenicali has made it clear, more than once, that another team, let alone two or more, is not a priority for the sport because he is likely in the team’s back pocket and the existing teams do not want the prize money payout diluted.

Toto Wolff, who has a lot of influence in the F1 paddock only wants a new team to enter the sport if it comes with an OEM such as a Porsche, Audi or Honda.  To some extent he has a point in that they will spend a lot of money on the sport to win, advertise their brand, and promote F1. They have deep pockets if you can get the board to approve the money needed for F1.

Speaking to VegasInsider, Fittipaldi disagrees: “In my opinion, we need more Formula 1 teams, for more seats to be available. They could have another two or three teams, another six cars. There will be many more possibilities for young drivers to come in F1.”

“We need more seats in F1. That’s what we’re missing. We need more teams in F1 for sure. In the mid-70s, some grands prix had nearly 30 cars. We need more cars. It’ll be better for the sponsors, for racing, for fans, for TV, and for the young talents that want to be in F1. It will give them more opportunity for sure.”

“I was talking to Michael [Andretti] in July during Formula E. He is very motivated to have a full American team. And that will be great for F1 to have a full American team competing. Not just another team, but an American team.

“Even for the racing fans in America, it’ll be great to have an American driver and an American team. It will create much more interest and following for F1.”

The Haas team is owned by an American – Gene Haas – but the man who runs the team, Guenther Steiner, hates Americans and would never test or give an American driver a chance. The car is almost entirely designed in Italy. Hence, no one considers the Haas team American.

Steiner does like collecting his paycheck from an American, however.