Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is again raising fears over the continued expansion of the Formula 1 calendar.
Currently, the schedule is at a record high with 21 races this season but since Liberty Media’s takeover in 2017, there have been suggestions that could grow to 25.
The 2020 calendar is looking stacked with new races in Vietnam and Holland already expected, although that could be offset with Barcelona rumoured to be dropped and other events like Silverstone and Mexico also out of contract.
“I think what you have to appreciate is that a Grand Prix weekend, not for us but the people down in the garage, it’s a week-long event,” Horner told Motorsport Week.
“For many other functions that are involved in going to Grands Prix, 21 is already a big ask and going beyond that is, I feel, we’re at a tipping point.”
There is a possibility that some race weekends could be shortened to just two days in an effort to relieve some of the strain, but for the Red Bull chief, the quality of F1 is more important than the quantity.
“You then have to look at the construction of a Grand Prix weekend,” he continued.
“Do we need to do as much testing as we do? The duration of the season. All those factors and what impact it has on cost and budget caps and so on and, is ultimately it going to make a better show?
“A book can only have so many chapters and we want to make sure as many of those chapters are as entertaining as possible and it crescendos to something.
“What you don’t want to have is saturation and I think it’s finding that balance of what is the right number and what is the right construction of a race weekend.”
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On the other end of the spectrum though is Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who believes the financial and promotional gains are worth the extra hassle.
“The balance you need to strike is between understanding that Formula 1 is a very aspirational and glamorous sport and obviously less can be more,” he said.
“But equally, as a company, we want to grow our revenue and the obvious revenue trigger is doing more races.
“I think FOM is pretty clear that, if more races are being added to the calendar, they need to be creative and they need to make it all the way down to the bottom line or be very attractive races, tapping new markets.
“I think the mix at the moment and the discussions we are having is right.”
