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| © AP Photo/ Fernando Hernandez |
Formula 1 could add three more races to the calendar in 2013 making it the longest season in its history in terms of Grands Prix scheduled for a year.
The current schedule has 20 on its list but the terms of a new Concorde Agreement has provisioned 20 races with "a number of possible extras" according to journalist Joe Saward.
More Grands Prix leads to an increase in revenue for the sport and the teams, but it also adds to costs and increases pressure on some of the circuits in Europe, which is in a middle of an economic crisis.
"The year has 52 weeks. We should have 26 Grands Prix! Some in Europe, yeah!" said Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost.
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier indicated that the more the races, the merrier it would be.
"I think you have two philosophies. Is it going to be like NASCAR with 38 weekends, if I'm not wrong, or staying around 20," the Frenchman said. "The true question is over 20 Grands Prix we have to reconsider our structure, because we obviously have a team personnel issue, travelling and logistical issue.
"We can speak about cost-saving but more Grands Prix means more revenue for Formula 1 and the more countries we can visit is the more countries we can bring Formula 1 to fans," he added. "There is no exact number, no magic number I guess, but I'm rather like Franz - more races, why not?"
Next year, New Jersey is scheduled to be added to the calendar although there have been doubts raised about it.
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was asked by the BBC whether the Grand Prix of America would go ahead as planned in 2013, to which the 81-year-old replied, "No. Definitely, no."
"We'll have to see, I need to go and have another look," he added. "If they can get it completed, and confirm to us it will be done, for sure they'll be on the calendar."
However Ecclestone admitted that he was worried whether the street circuit will be ready in time for the event.
"It seems that all the politicians are happy, I don't think from that point of view there is any problem. If they get the place finished the way we want it, then I'm sure there'll be a big difference, but I don't think they will," he pointed out.
The future of several circuits are in doubt which could see some taken off the calendar particularly the Belgian and Korean Grands Prix and the option of alternating the Spanish Grand Prix at Valencia and Barcelona.