2023 started o꧂ff in dramati♋c fashion with Ben Sulayem posting a tweet stating that he would look to expand the F1 grid.

The move was met with a raft of criticism, particularly from F1 and the teams, who insisted there’s no need for an 11th team to pote๊ntially “dilute” the sport.

While the general stance fro🍸m F1 has remained the same, the FIA still accepted Andretti’s bid to become the 11th team in 2025 or 2026.

However, they are still waiting on getting the green light from Liberty Media 𝐆and the team from a commercial perspective.

• FIA approve Andretti's team entry - but F1 s꧑till need to agree

Speaking to the in Austin, Ben Sulayem claimed he was “attacked” and “abused” - but didn’t mention who was responsible🍷.

“I went through hell,” he said. “I🃏’m asking myself, ‘What did I do to deserve all of this attack in February and March? They attacke✃d me, the day I opened the expression of interest.

“Even when my son di💜ed, they attacked me, abused me, just to break me, just because I opened for the whole worl𒉰d to enter. It was unnecessary, counterproductive, not good for business.

“They can say whateveꩲr they want. At the end of ꦺthe day, I was elected to take care of the sport. 

"Nothing ꦍgoes into my pocket. We don’t have shareholders, we don’t have a board of directors to share the money, so my mission is different than theirs. That’s very clear.”

The 61-year-old still is unsu💯re why he was criticised♔ for opening the doors for an Andretti entry.

“I don’t know, I really don’t know. Just because I opened an eꦰxpression of interesꦦt," he added.

“We have a contract [the Concorde Agreement] for 12 [teams]. To have 12 and say ‘No, you are not allowed’… I am here for motorsport, the spir🀅it of the sport.

“They look at🤡 the money as a piecꦇe of cake and they will share it.”