Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone is critical of Liberty Media's decision to expand next year's calendar to 22 races.

Having signed new deals with Britain, Mexico, Spain and Italy in recent months, the sport will have its longest season on record next year with the addition of Holland and Vietnam.

While Ecclestone himself grew the schedule to its current 21 races, he claims there is a tipping point coming soon.

"Definitely too much, 16 races are enough," he stated to Auto Motor und Sport.

"The more races there are, the more the product is devalued. We have already experienced this supersaturation in tennis, there are 100 tournaments, but not even 10 of them are important.

"If there are only 16 races, the organizers have to pay more accordingly, and they will do it because their event is all the more valuable due to the shortage of Grands Prix."

Also Read:

• Haas less concerned by the impact of 22-race F1 calendar in 2020
• After Monza's F1 renewal, Imola and Mugello reveal future interest

A close friend of Ecclestone, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, agreed with the 87-year-old.

“Personally I would like to go back to 16 races, that’s how I grew up, and it would give the drivers the flexibility to do something else," he said.

"For us, it is pretty straightforward and I don’t think we can complain.”

Meanwhile, McLaren CEO Zak Brown offered his suggestion to allowing more countries the chance to host F1.

"The football world cup and the Olympic Games take place every four years, is it not an option to have Austria and Germany rotate, or Spain and the Netherlands?" he pondered via Motorsport-Total. 

"You will remain present in these markets and at the same time you create an extra exclusivity because there is not a race every year." 

Another error Ecclestone thinks F1 is about to make is implementing a drastic overhaul in the regulations from 2021, with the Briton believing the recent battles between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull show the sport is still in good health.

"[It is] like Formula One should be," he said on the string of closely fought races.

"I see no reason for a big change. If so, then you would have to change something dramatically, for example, return back to naturally aspirated engines, but there's no courage.

"I see no reason why they should be thinking about a Plan B. It would be better if they had a good plan A and make it work."