McLaren boss hints at opposition to more races

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has hinted that any proposal to further increase the grand prix calendar for next season could be met with opposition.

The 10 Formula One teams are currently in the middle of an exhausting period of six races in eight weeks, which started last month with back-to-back races at Monaco and the Nurburgring.

The teams have subsequently shipped all their equipment across the Atlantic and are preparing for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix just a few days after the Canadian event.

It is then back to Europe for the French and British Grands Prix on July 4 and 11, all to accommodate an 18-race season, and unsurprisingly the teams are finding it hard work.

The race in Montreal, however, was a late addition as it had initially been axed from the calendar as Canadian law prohibited tobacco advertising.

But promoter Normand Legault, with the aid of considerable financial backing, managed to convince the teams to return and it was subsequently reinstated.

However, with Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone listening to offers from other countries to stage races, an already congested calendar could yet be added to.

Dennis, though, believes all the teams have learned their lesson this season and are wary of the stresses and strains it imposes on their personnel.

“There is more and more pressure for more grands prix,” said Dennis.

“The 18th race this year was the result of an independent negotiation between the promoter and the teams.

“I think the teams have learned the hard way there is a limit to what we can achieve and provide to the promoter, and the real pressure is being felt by the team members in the mechanics and support staff.

“We are a team, and not the only one, who cares about its employees. So we are very mindful of what we are experiencing at the moment when we face the pressures next year to increase the calendar yet again.”