Formula One news

F1 team bosses would welcome 20 races

Several Formula 1 team bosses have said they would welcome a calendar with 20 races in the future. The current F1 season has 18 races, but according to a number of team bosses the calendar see 20 races, but that would be the upper limit.

At the Motor Sport Business forum in Bahrain Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "I think 20 races is a big number but a sensible number. It's a huge logistical challenge but the way the teams are working with each other to self-regulate testing it is possible."

Honda CEO Nicky Fry agreed with Horner. He said: "I think 20 grands prix is about right. The balance of traditional circuits in Europe and circuits in new continents is vital. Formula One needs to go where the commercial market is and that market is moving from Europe and North America to the Middle East and Asia."

Force India F1 team boss Colin Kolles would also welcome twenty races in the near future. He said in Bahrain: "We should have 20 races but not more. The future is definitely the Middle East region. There is a lot of investment coming out of this region and that is what is needed in Formula One."

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis agrees with the rest but does say 20 would be the absolute limit. He said: "I welcome this expansion, and heartily commend (commercial supremo) Bernie Ecclestone for spearheading it. But I have two provisos: Firstly, that the season never expands to more than 20 grands prix, which I regard as a natural logistical limit and, secondly, that we preserve a closed season over the winter. The closed season is essential not only for logistical reasons but also in order to stir up a sense of anticipation in the hearts and minds of F1 fans."

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