Zoom Ecclestone aiming for a nice round number

Bernie Ecclestone has braced the Formula One world for an even longer race calendar in the future.

There were 17 grand prix this year, and with the addition of Korea next year and the expected return of Canada, the schedule is set to expand to 19.

But with the likes of India pushing for a 2011 race and France still working on a new venue, F1 chief executive Ecclestone is eyeing an ideal schedule of 20 races.

"Yes, I always said that it is possible and obviously now there are more and more people falling for that idea," he said in an interview with his sport's official website.

The Briton said longer calendars are possible now that the amount of testing has been dramatically reduced.

"Nobody needs testing," he said. "It was always, in my opinion, that testing costs money while racing brings money."

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM