Formula 1: Stefano Domenicali opens up on potential further expanded calendar

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says that the season calendar has the potential to comprise up to 30 races in the future, such is the interest from various countries wanting to host a Grand Prix.

F1 is embarking on the longest season in its history this year with 23-races scheduled to be held around the globe.

Bahrain kicked us off last weekend, with Saudi Arabia hosting the second race of the year this weekend at the Jeddah street circuit.

In April, we head back to Australia at long last, before the European season begins with Imola, whilst Miami follows up soon after at the beginning of May.

Indeed, F1 is growing considerably at the moment, and Domenicali has said that a race in Las Vegas and in Africa, potentially back at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa, could be in the pipeline.

He went on, too, in an interview with Martin Brundle for Sky Sports, to say that 30 races could even be possible in the future – though the Concorde agreement with the teams states a maximum of only 24 races can be held up until 2025:

“Not only Las Vegas, there are other cities that are interested in Formula 1.

“We need to be balanced, we need to see what are the other opportunities. And very soon we are going to tell everyone what is our strategy to develop that market.

“On top of America, on top of China, I think there is a potential also to be in Africa soon.

“There is a lot of interest there. For sure that’s another area that so far is missing in the geography of our calendar.

“I think there is potential to go to 24.

“I would say there is potential to go to 30! In terms of the interest we see all around the world.

“It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are