Claire Williams slams F1 calendar expansion plans

Claire Williams has criticised Liberty Media's calendar expansion plans, claiming that there is a 'human factor' that has not been considered, and that the teams should only agree if it makes financial sense for the season to be lengthened into the winter.

The current season has 21 races and it runs from March until the end of November, with a mid-season gap in August.

The winter break is used for teams to fine-tune their cars ahead of the new season, but any additional races would likely eat into any development and testing time available, with Denmark, Vietnam and Miami all front runners to be added to the schedule.

Williams doesn't feel that all aspects of an expansion have been properly considered, and that teams should not be asked to absorb additional costs.

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She said: “I don’t see why teams should be expected to go to new races for nothing. If we are to do that then it has to make financial sense and those races that come on the calendar have to come on because they are paying to do so.

"The price fund pot dilutes down even further and it’s just costing the teams more and more - and that shouldn’t be the case."

She added that the drivers and team staff work intensively during the season and the break allows them time to be with their families - something that should be considered seriously before enacting any extension.

Williams said: “Maybe drawing the calendar out, starting earlier and finishing later gives more of a break. But it actually then takes away time that we have to build our cars over the winter.

"Also for the guys to spend good quality time at home with their families over the winter.

“From a human perspective it’s tough on our guys who are having to spend such a huge amount of time away from home."