Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali says there could be 30 races in the future

Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali has 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.

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.

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

The growing calendar has already led to complaints about the pressures it is placing on teams financially and their staff mentally.

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

He said: ‘I would say there is potential to go to 30. In terms of the interest we see all around the world.

There are already concerns that the current calendar is too long for employees of F1 teams

‘It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are the historical values we need to see on the calendar.’

Among the potential venues destinations 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.

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

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

There has also been talk of a return to South Africa’s Kyalami circuit 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.

Domenicali also said that some of the current races could lose their spot on the grid.

He said: ‘There are some promoters who have expiring agreements, and probably some of the current grands prix will no longer be part of the calendar.’ 

There have been concerns among some of the drivers over the negative effects brought by increasing the length of the seasons.

Four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel, told Autosport in October in regards to the 23 races this season: ‘I think one, maybe it’s too many races for the people to watch. It’s not special any more, if there’s that many.

The F1 paddock might also return to China which has been absent since the start of the pandemic

Sebastian Vettel says the current calendar is already too long for employees of his Aston Martin team

‘And second, I feel for [the staff]. Us drivers, we are at the good side of things: we can arrive on a Wednesday night and leave if we find a flight etcetera on a Sunday night.

‘But the team already has a lot more stress. They arrived Monday or Saturday the week before, they build the garage, prepare the cars, and then also they have to run the full week and then pack down, send everything back, and prepare back in the factory.

‘For them, it’s a job that you’re busy all weekdays and nearly every weekend, so you have no time for yourself.

‘And I think we are in a time where people are growing more and more conscious that they have a life too, and that the life doesn’t belong to the employer.’