FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that automakers BYD and Geely have both inquired about joining the Formula 1 grid, according to MotorBiscuit.
Ben Sulayem revealed the discussions while speaking at the New Economy Forum in Madrid, Grande Prêmio reported.
“I met with other manufacturers, and they came saying they wanted to join,” Ben Sulayem said, per Grande Prêmio.
“One of them was BYD and another was Geely,” Ben Sulayem added, the outlets reported.
BYD has been weighing a potential move into Formula 1 for much of 2026, and former Red Bull boss Christian Horner met BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li at the Cannes Film Festival in May, ESPN reported.
Ben Sulayem suggested that BYD take over an existing team already competing on the grid, but the company rejected the concept.
“I said, ‘Why don’t you take over a team to start with?’ That was with BYD — why would I hide it? And they said, ‘No, we want to have our own team,’” Ben Sulayem stated, according to Grande Prêmio.
In response, Ben Sulayem challenged the manufacturer, telling them to return with a serious proposal demonstrating that the entry would succeed.
The FIA president emphasized that the sport is not actively hunting for another team and lacks a formal process to add one at this moment.
“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,” Ben Sulayem explained, per Grande Prêmio.
While he would welcome a Chinese team, Ben Sulayem stressed that any new entrant must navigate the exact same regulatory process as everyone else.
“Everything has to be done on our terms and according to our regulations, which are fair to everyone, because that is also the FIA’s responsibility,” Ben Sulayem said, according to local coverage.
He noted that regulations regarding the cars will not be altered simply to accommodate Chinese manufacturers.
BYD special adviser Alfredo Altavilla made it clear that the company intends to be a serious contender rather than a minor partner.
“We will never participate in Formula 1 just to put a sticker on the side of a car,” Altavilla stated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, GPblog reported.