Formula One season set to expand

Formula One’s new American owners Liberty Media have not been shy in expressing their desire to expand the Formula One calendar.

The 2017 Formula One World Championship will consist of 20 Grand Prix.

In 2018, the calendar will change slightly with Formula One no longer visiting Malaysia, but returning to European destinations in Germany and France.

But beyond 2018, Formula One could see an even larger calendar, with Formula One not only wanting to have more races in its ‘home’ continent of Europe, but also increasing the reach of the championship in the United States, Asia and Latin America.

‘We want to work in partnership with our teams in terms of determining where we go.

‘But our view is that we’d like to go above 21 and we want to be a little bit more proactive and go on the offensive in terms of the markets where we go. F1 marketing chief Sean Bratches told motorsport.com.

‘[Going beyond 21 races] takes a toll, both physically, emotionally and economically.

‘We have to work closely with our partners on the team front to find out what the high water mark is and what makes sense for everyone.’

Formula One are also keen to try and minimise clashes with other formulas.

For motorsport fans two of the clashes that are annoying are the clashes of Formula One grand prix with the Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 Hour Race.

But for the Formula One it goes further with clashes between F1 and World Endurance Championship, MotoGP and the ever growing Formula E Championship.

As well as non motorsport events.

‘We are very interested in doing what’s best for fans, to the extent that there are opportunities to avoid circumstances where there are competitive sports going on,’ he said.

‘Next year there is a weekend where the Wimbledon final and World Cup final take place on the same day as the British Grand Prix. It would be suboptimal to have the British Grand Prix on that day.’