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Claire Williams against 21+ race Formula 1 calendar

Claire Williams against 21+ race Formula 1 calendar

12-08-2019 19:08
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Bobby Vincent

Claire Williams has admitted her and her team Williams are against Formula 1 having over 21 races on its calendar in the future.

The 2020 F1 calendar is set to feature with 22 races, after confirmation of the Mexican Grand Prix staying on the schedule for another three seasons after this current one.

Earlier in the year, F1 announced races in Vietnam and the Netherlands for the 2020 season, with F1's owners Liberty Media having a clear intent to expand the Formula 1 schedule.

However, not everyone agrees with this, and it's usually team principals that have the strongest opinion on the matter. Williams has now questionned whether adding more races is sensible or stupid.

"As long as we keep a cap on the number of races, 21 is about the maximum number in my opinion," the Williams deputy team principal said. "Personally, I would like to see fewer races because you take down supply and increase demand, that's basic economics.

"It's the same for racing almost. You put too many events on the calendar and it's a lot for people to consume when there's so much competition in the market when it comes to other sporting events or other media etc.

"The other consideration is personnel. If you increase the number of races, (there's) the pressure that that puts on your team from a performance perspective and what they're capable of doing.

"How often do they want to be away, a work/life balance is difficult. But with smaller teams, like ours, with smaller budgets, it's difficult to think about how we manage a calendar with north of 21 races on it."