JUNE 4, 2003

Ecclestone backs normal-sized F1 calendar

A couple of weeks ago Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was talking about expanding the World Championship calendar to 20 races but now he is back to the normal F1 song sheet, telling the German newsagency DPA that "we found out some time ago that 16 is a good number, maybe one more."

A couple of weeks ago Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was talking about expanding the World Championship calendar to 20 races but now he is back to the normal F1 song sheet, telling the German newsagency DPA that we found out some time ago that 16 is a good number, maybe one more. That is the kind of limit we want. I suspect Europe will have a third world economy within the next decade anyhow. I think the European politicians have taken the wrong direction in their thought processes. Maybe we won't have to cut the races, maybe some European Grands Prix will disappear all on their own.

Ecclestone told DPA that he has no plans to retire.

"I have a rich wife," he said, " so I don't have to do the job. I do it simply because I like what I do."