How to add value to F1? Cut the number of races, says Abiteboul!

Renault's Cyril Abiteboul believes a drastic reduction of the number of races on Formula 1's calendar would greatly boost the value of the sport.

Since taking over Grand Prix racing at the end of 2016, commercial rights holder Liberty Media has privileged a long-term commercial strategy of increasing Formula 1's schedule.

Chief executive Chase Carey has spoken of adding destination cities - like Miami, a venue currently in the works - to the platform, with some projections calling for an F1 season comprised of up to 25 races spread over Asia, Europe and America.

However, Abireboul believes the sport's management should perhaps consider the opposite vision, and an aggressive reduction all the way down to just 15 weekends of F1 racing a year!

"We need to be able to engage with fans but it has to remain something special. We are already way above what should be the figure for something special," the Renault Sport F1 boss told Motorsport.com.

"We need to convey a message of pride, of motivation, of energy. With the calendar that we have now, the enthusiasm is not the same as when we were only traveling 15 times per year.

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"If we don't have that energy, it is going to be very difficult to convey that externally.

"It is almost becoming routine. It should not be a day-to-day job. We've tipped that balance, so we need to be extremely careful," he added.

"I appreciate the reason why, commercially we need to grow the calendar, but as far as I'm concerned, I would be for a massive contraction of the sport."

Abiteboul puts an approximate figure on that contraction, suggesting a 15 to 18-race schedule would deliver a massive boost to F1's value.

"If you were to go very aggressive and say 15 races, you have to tell the 21 races you have right now, 'Look guys there are going to be six of you that will be dropped: compete'," said Abiteboul.

"You completely reverse the pattern of the market. It would be very interesting to see the reaction.

"I understand it would be a gamble, that it is not something within the current set-up of Formula 1, that acquires more money every year, more people, more tracks, more prize-fund, more of everything.

"But at some point there will be a crunch time and maybe we will see if we can switch the balance."

Any expansion of F1's race calendar should obviously entail an increase of revenue for teams. But Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya says the human factor must also be taken carefully into account.

"More races mean more revenue and if I can have one and a half or two race teams and I get paid by Formula 1, I'd certainly consider it," he said.

"But if things stay the same, then I think more than 21 races and these triple-headers are just too taxing for our engineers and mechanics and all those involved in the race team."

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