03/04/2007
NEWS STORY
En-route to Malaysia for the second round of the 2007 Formula One World Championship, Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that he hopes to see more races on the calendar in future.
"We could easily imagine that the number of grand prix in a season could be 20," he told reporters, according to Fox Sports. "That could be Mexico, India and Russia. South Korea is another candidate."
His comment comes as F1 insiders and fans lament the excruciating gap between the first and second races on the 2007 calendar (3 weeks) and a further 4-week gap between the Bahrain and Spanish events. After the (relative) excitement of Melbourne interest in F1 has gone slightly off the boil due to these unusually long breaks.
If the teams are to be persuaded to participate in more races, they will require a financial incentive. That shouldn't be too much of a problem, since the more races on the calendar - especially those underwritten by governments eager to be part of the F1 dream - the more money that flows into the coffers of FOM and CVC.
Ecclestone also believes that more races will mean more sponsorship money for the teams: "The more we hold races in good countries, the easier it will be for them to find sponsors," he said, omitting to define what exactly he means as a "good country".
Then again, that could be a further dig at Britain, his words coming just days after the French Motorsport Federation revealed that it is to suspend the 2008 French Grand Prix.
France and Britain - two of the oldest members of the 'Grand Prix club' - have long been in the Englishman's 'bad books'.
"Formula One is very international," he said, "it's a world championship, not a championship linked to certain countries. When the standards are not respected we have to go elsewhere."
Finally, Ecclestone also repeated his call for a night race, claiming that it would be good for everyone.
"It would be ideal for Asia," he said, "since it would be the right time difference to be broadcast in Europe. It would also be very spectacular; it all depends of course on the circuit."
Singapore looks to be the favourite for a night race, though the Australian Grand Prix organizers are also thought to be considering the idea.