Williams worried about 20-race calendars

[The Stig]

Frank Williams has expressed concern about Bernie Ecclestone's plans to further expand the Formula One calendar.

Ecclestone is already applying pressure for a minimally 20-race schedule in the near future, but Williams said the sport risks becoming less attractive for its workers.

"We have all lost people," he told Motorsport Aktuell, "who have not been able to withstand the enormous pressure and stresses of these calendars."

The largest exodus of paddock talent occurred in 2005, when the calendar blew out to an unprecedented 19 Grand Prix, before settling at seventeen this year.


Williams, 65, said the problem of expanding the calendar is not easily solved by simply cutting back further on private testing.

"Just as new aircraft need safety checks," he said, "we also need to test."

Williams warned: "It is inescapable that more test restrictions will lead to more accidents."

[cosworth151]

I wonder how they'd feel about NASCAR's 36 race schedule. It used to be more. Back in 67, there were 48. Richard Petty won 27 of them himself, 10 of them in a row! I don't think 20 is too much to ask. They could pair up some of the races that are close together, like they do with the US and Canada.

[Dare]

I agree Cosworth,look how many lapses between
races we have already had

Maybe if they removed the drivers aids testing
wouldn't be so critical