Earlier this year, motorsport’s governing body invited potential new teams to express their interest in joining the F1 grid from as early as 2025.
The evaluation process of those applications is ongoing, with several teams, including Andretti-Cadillac, Hitech, Craig Pollock’s Formula Equal and LKY SUNZ going public with their ambitions.
Other squads, including Rodin Carlin and an entry from Asia, were also linked to potential F1 bids.
But the move to expand the F1 grid has not gone down well in the grand prix paddock, with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali sceptical about the need to expand the number of entries beyond the current 10 teams.
Furthermore, rival teams themselves are not impressed about the prospect of getting more cars on the grid.
They have publicly questioned the commercial implications of needing to share their revenue with extra parties, as well as logistical issues relating to the number of pit garages available.
But Ben Sulayem is unmoved by the doubts about the new team entries, and thinks he and the FIA have done the right thing in trying to get more cars on the grid.
Speaking exclusively to Autosport’s sister site Motorsport-Total.com, Ben Sulayem said: “We have a contract and our contract says we have up to 12 teams. So we are not breaking the rules. We are, on the contrary, fulfilling the rules.
“The FIA as a regulator has to look at all the requests, and we did. The expression of interest was the right thing to do. I know some of the teams are not happy because I can see the financial impact on them.
“Is it adding a team or do they have to buy an existing team? That's not for me to impose on big teams. But what we have to do is the process, and the due diligence of the financial side and the technical side.”