Fernando Alonso has suggested that he won’t remain in Formula One if Liberty Media add too many races to the calendar.
Speaking to the media at the Canadian Grand Prix, the two-time world champion said that if the calendar swells to 25 races a year, he’ll leave.
“I started when the calendar was 16 races, plus the tests. Now we keep on increasing the races year after year and I think we are in a number that is quite demanding already.
“The preparation, the sponsor events, the tests, the commitments you have plus 20, 21 races, I think is already enough. I consider that a good quality of life is more important than to do more seasons in F1 — so if the calendar stays between 20-21…I’ll be happy to continue,” he said.
When asked to comment on Alonso’s statement, Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton said he agreed.
“I understand what Fernando is saying and I tend to agree with it.”
According to F1 commercial managing director Sean Bratches, Liberty wants more than 21 races as it looks to expand the sport.
“We want to work in partnership with our teams in terms of determining where we go, but our view is that we’d like to go above 21,” he told Reuters.
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