<p>Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone could have 22 races jostling for a slot next season but teams have made clear they want the calendar limited to 20. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The current championship has 19 rounds but Austria is returning in 2014 after an 11-year absence while new races in New Jersey and Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi have also been pencilled in. <br /><br />Some have question marks over them, however, and Ecclestone told Reuters at the Hungarian Grand Prix that 20 races would be "a good amount". <br /><br />That said, the 82-year-old added that "everything is possible" and the calendar could go above 20 "if we have to". <br /><br />Formula One has never had more than 20 rounds - and in the 1950s there were as few as seven - and team principals indicated further expansion could be a step too far at a time when their personnel and resources are already stretched. <br /><br />"There are locations that may be in doubt and therefore I think having some backups isn't a bad idea," said McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh. <br /><br />"I don't know whether the calendar will grow to 22. Twenty two would certainly be incredibly tough on the teams...we used to think going beyond 16 was tough and it is."<br /> <br />Much of the recent expansion has been outside of Europe, with the return of Austria a rare exception, and that has put added strain on staff away from home for long periods. <br /><br />More than 20 races could force teams to hire more people. <br /><br />"That's a big concern to us - 22 races - because it changes staff levels dramatically, as well as (more) in-season testing," said Marussia principal John Booth, whose team have the smallest budget. "It's okay having new races, but maybe one or two will fall away." <br /><br />Mercedes principal Ross Brawn agreed the 20 races held last year had been challenging enough.</p>
<p>Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone could have 22 races jostling for a slot next season but teams have made clear they want the calendar limited to 20. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The current championship has 19 rounds but Austria is returning in 2014 after an 11-year absence while new races in New Jersey and Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi have also been pencilled in. <br /><br />Some have question marks over them, however, and Ecclestone told Reuters at the Hungarian Grand Prix that 20 races would be "a good amount". <br /><br />That said, the 82-year-old added that "everything is possible" and the calendar could go above 20 "if we have to". <br /><br />Formula One has never had more than 20 rounds - and in the 1950s there were as few as seven - and team principals indicated further expansion could be a step too far at a time when their personnel and resources are already stretched. <br /><br />"There are locations that may be in doubt and therefore I think having some backups isn't a bad idea," said McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh. <br /><br />"I don't know whether the calendar will grow to 22. Twenty two would certainly be incredibly tough on the teams...we used to think going beyond 16 was tough and it is."<br /> <br />Much of the recent expansion has been outside of Europe, with the return of Austria a rare exception, and that has put added strain on staff away from home for long periods. <br /><br />More than 20 races could force teams to hire more people. <br /><br />"That's a big concern to us - 22 races - because it changes staff levels dramatically, as well as (more) in-season testing," said Marussia principal John Booth, whose team have the smallest budget. "It's okay having new races, but maybe one or two will fall away." <br /><br />Mercedes principal Ross Brawn agreed the 20 races held last year had been challenging enough.</p>