Teams shun expansion plans

Formula One’s top team bosses have voiced their displeasure at suggestions the season could be expanded.

The sport is coming to the end of the longest season in its history in China this weekend, when Shanghai hosts the 19th grand prix of 2005.

Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone forced through his expansion plan last year thanks to threats over the French and British Grands Prix.

Teams are only committed to a maximum of 17 races under the Concorde Agreement but special terms were agreed to keep Magny-Cours and Silverstone on the calendar as the 18th and 19th races.

Ecclestone will not be able to repeat that trick this time due to long-term contracts with those circuits, giving him a headache as he bids to keep all 19 races on the calendar – and potentially expand to 20 with another Japanese race.

Leading team bosses are unhappy with such a long schedule, with Ferrari’s Jean Todt unusually siding with his rivals.

He said: “The calendar normally plans to have 17 grands prix with a possibility of 18. This year, for maintaining he British and French Grands Prix we agreed to make 19 grands prix but we would not normally.”

McLaren chief Ron Dennis added: “Every time we go to a grand prix it costs us money, so if there is a motivation to have more races it probably means someone else is making money.

“Putting aside the fiscal elements, it really is changing the characteristic of the grand prix team. It is more difficult for the mechanics and engineers etc.

“Working hard is part of being in Formula One but when it starts to impact on your private life, when you have seen relationships with wives and girlfriends put under the strain they are, it is unfair.”