BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld has admitted that he would be happy to see more races added to the Formula One calendar, and is looking forward to going to new venues over the next couple of years.
While his BMW Sauber crew may not agree with him, Nick Heidfeld has revealed that he would look forward to contesting more races in a Formula One season than the 19 planned for next season.
Current agreements would limit the schedule to 20 rounds, but there have frequently been talks that, should testing be reduced, the number of races could be increased beyond that - something that would no doubt help Bernie Ecclestone satisfy the number of countries hoping to be included on the F1 bandwagon.
The 2009 campaign expands to 19 rounds with the addition of Abu Dhabi, while India and Korea are poised to be added in 2010, although it is not yet known whether they will replace under-fire events or expand the schedule. The mid-season 'break' that has allowed teams an extra weekend off during August in recent seasons looks likely to become a thing of the past next year, but Heidfeld insists that he would be happy to take in as many grands prix as are offered.
"I'm looking forward to having more races as is planned for the future, and I wouldn't mind missing one or two tests," he told the BMW Sauber website, "Actually, the tests have been reduced quite a lot over the last two or three years, but I hope we have more races because there is not one that I don't like."
With Malaysia, Bahrain and China having been added to the schedule in the past ten years, Formula One has already taken on a more cosmopolitan appearance, and Heidfeld is already anticipating the latest additions.
"I'm looking forward to going to India and the other interesting new places currently being discussed," the 31-year old commented as he begins his preparations for the first of this year's new races, the European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia.
With Singapore still to come in 2008, the F1 calendar continues to expand, but Heidfeld laments the loss of one event to have dropped off the schedule in recent years.
"I think it's a pity that we don't race in America any more because, for me, Formula One - being a world championship - should race everywhere in the world," he opined, "But I think there's a good chance we will go to the States in the future."
The inaugural European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia restarts the F1 season after the summer break on the weekend of 24 August, while the first visit to Singapore, where the top flight will race both on another new street circuit and under floodlights, precedes the regular visit to China and Japan towards the tail-end of the season.
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I am definitely up for more races! To sum up some of previous comments here, let me put few thoughts down without any particular order - agree with more races=both more coverage for fans and pressure on all participants. However,I remember in the seventies the season used to start in January in Argentina/S.Africa; NASCAR recently has 36 races per season (ok, less challenging traveling schedule but they still seem to be developing the cars?!); regarding developments, I don't think that most of the teams think in terms of a yearly cycle anyway, there seems to be a continuous development so why so much fuss about a winter break for development?! as for costcutting I think that the testing reduction can save a lot as a test squad is almost like a team within a team, furthermore how about reducing the amount of people attending the car during a pitstop like in Indycars?! what could help small teams would be a new agreement allowing customer teams, remember even teams like Williams or Tyrrell started with old cars built by somebody else, I'd like to see back those days with 30-odd entrants for the race!- what do the top teams do with their old machinery anyway, sell it to collectors?! why not use it for another year and get some of the development funds back if its good enough??
I guess there is 2 ways to look at this, more races - say if we get indy back, mexico want a gp, south africa, bring imola back and a few others like that indian gp bernie wants we may have between 25 and 30 gps before long.
This would be good for fans as there is more action and good for sponsors as it is more coverage. However, this is bad for drivers, teams and all the employees and potentialy the fans too. There will not be enough time for testing and development as well as there being the hazard taking away the off season which will mean no build up of excitement for the fans and so not as much viewers as there may be at the first few races.
Personally I think 20 races should be the max because anymore becomes an overdose and is not benifitial to anyone.
I think the current calandar is fine. 17-19 races per year is the balanced option. It gives teams time to regroup after a bad outing and improve car performances between racedays. But if Bernie gets his way not only the summer break but even the winter break will disappear as there will be an insane number of over 30 races a year. Testing should remain the same it helps both large and small teams to develop cars and provide aspiring youngsters some time and experience behind the wheel before being thrust into a F1 hot seat
yeah~ lets put on more races. russia should have a race and it must be during winter. this time we can see how good and reliable formula one car can get. then add another at south africa. put back us grand prix in calender but not at that speedway, on proper race track please. then award some more to arab nation, asia and europe. total race for one calender year - 25 races. that would be great for fan.
More races means more chances to get a win or a podium. Lets face it, Nick needs more chances. Though I'm sure he will begin winning someday.
But more races will increase costs for the teams, so they had better get serious about decreasing costs.
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