F1: Martin Brundle warns plan to move towards a 25-race season is ‘EXTREME’ but says it will happen

Martin Brundle has said that it would be ‘extreme’ for Formula One to run 25 races per season but admitted he has ‘no doubt’ it will happen. 

Earlier this week, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali suggested that there could be as many as 30 races a season in the future.

As the sport has expanded, the number of races has continued to increase, with 23 races originally scheduled for the 2022 calendar.

The 2022 season is already planned to be the longest season in F1 history with 23 races – with the cancelled Russian Grand Prix expected to be replaced

Though the Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled due to their invasion of Ukraine, there is strong speculation that the race in Sochi will be replaced by a track in a different country. 

Domenicali told Sky Sports there could be 30 races in the future due to the demand in countries wanting to host a Grand Prix. 

While Brundle admitted expanding the calendar to 25 races is possible, he ruled out going as far as 30 races a season. 

F1 boss Stefano Domenicali suggested the calendar could be 30 races a season in the future

‘There’s no doubt we are going to 25 races a season, which is extreme,’ the former F1 driver told Sky Sports. 

‘I don’t think we will go to 30. I think the point [Domenicali] was making was: we could go to 30 races as there’s that much interest. 

‘Formula 1 is going stratospheric at the moment, so I think he was just making the point: “We could easily do 25 – if I want to, I could do 30.” 

‘The regulations limit it to 24 at the moment, but I’m sure the teams will all agree that if there’s more money to be had and more racing to be had, they will go to 25.’

The Concorde Agreement, which was signed by all teams in F1 in August 2020, allows up to 25 races to take place a year.

There have been concerns over the pressure an expanded season would place on teams’ staff

But in 2021, Domenicali played down the suggestion of 25 races and even said the sport could look to scale back the number of grands prix. 

‘You can look at it from two perspectives. If the World Championship is exciting, it can be 24 races,’ he told Auto Motor Sport last year.

‘If it is decided early, it will be tough. I think more than 23 races is very unlikely, even if it is practically possible. 

‘If we get everything right, one day fewer races will be possible again.’

Meanwhile, Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll has slammed the idea as ‘ridiculous’ in the past. 

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll has slammed the suggestion as ‘ridiculous’ in the past

Last November, Stroll insisted there had to be a balance in the sport to allow personnel travelling with sport time to see their families amid concerns over the mental pressures on teams’ staff. 

Among the potential venues that could hold a race in the future is Las Vegas.

There is fierce speculation that Las Vegas, which last hosted a race in 1984, could join next season as a third race in the United States.

Las Vegas has been spoken about as a potential third race in the United States in the future

The Kyalami circuit in South Africa could also return having been absent from the calendar since 1993

F1 has been visiting Austin, Texas, since 2012, while Miami is a new circuit that has been added in 2022.

Domenicali has also insisted that a race in Africa could be added to the calendar.

The most likely circuit would be South Africa’s Kyalami track, which last hosted a race in 1993. 

Another venue that could return down the line is the Shanghai International Circuit in China, which has not hosted a race since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2022 season kick-started last weekend with Charles Leclerc winning the Bahrain Grand Prix as he and team-mate Carlos Sainz secured a one-two finish for Ferrari.