Formula 1’s leading drivers have shared contrasting views on the length of the calendar, with new owners Liberty Media suggesting more races could be added.
This year’s F1 schedule features 20 races, starting with this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. 2016 saw a record-breaking 21 rounds take place.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton are open to more races joining the calendar, saying 25 is achievable.
“I think it depends on how they structure it,” Ricciardo said in Thursday’s FIA press conference. “It’s not too many. I think it depends logistically how they do it. I like racing. If it means just racing and no testing and less other stuff then… maybe.”
Hamilton added: “I think if you asked any member of my team whether they’d want to do more races or less, they’d ask for more. It is definitely tough on the guys that are travelling but they love it.
“I’m like Daniel, I love racing so I’m not opposed to more races but I think they’ve got to change the structure, at least on different weekends. If it’s the same four days for 25 races, oh my God I think that would be too much.
“As long as they are in countries that have a good following. If you go to places where there’s a real great atmosphere then you can create a great event, then I think that would be awesome.”
However, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel disagrees, feeling the current number of races is the right one. “I think 25 is too many,” he explained. “I think 20 is enough. We don’t need more. I think anything between 16 and 20 is the right number.
"Also, thinking of the efforts going in from the team point of view. For us it’s fairly easy, arriving more or less with hand luggage, doing the job and getting back. I think we’re on the better side. For a lot of the team, for the staff, it’s hard work. So, I think we are having enough races.”
