Formula One team boss proposes radical shake up in bid to add MORE races to the calendar

Williams team principal James Vowles has proposed a drastic resolution to issues surrounding the Formula One calendar. 

The current schedule sees drivers compete in 24 races and six sprints events, a workload dubbed 'unsustainable' by McLaren driver Lando Norris when it was introduced ahead of the 2024 season. 

Little has changed since, with drivers and teams being put under an incredible amount of strain in order to get through a season.

Debates have therefore been ongoing about possible changes to the schedule, with officials believed to be considering increasing the number of sprint races in a season, shortening races or even introducing reverse grid races. 

However Vowles has proposed a very different idea - shortening race weekends.

Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast recently, the Brit argued that introducing two-day weekends in place of the current three-day events would help 'better the product' of F1. 

'I don't think we have too many races but I would not go above where we are at the moment because we're asking people at home to be there for half a year,' Vowles explained. 

'Half your weekends are spent watching Formula One. I think that's about the extreme end of where you can go to.

'I would change to two-day weekends. I would do Saturday and Sunday and here's the reason why. I know I just said 24 is the maximum, but I actually wouldn't be concerned about the fact because we've given back Friday, which is one day.

'If you added another two race weekends in, you'd still be net in the same amount of time that you were previously. I think we can commercialise it in a different way.

'But more than that, I think the product will be better because we do a lot of practice at the moment. If you force us, you get one hour before qualifying and that's it. That's quite a different proposition. 

'So I think you'll get more variability and more randomness that comes out of it.'

Despite the many complaints surrounding the current Formula One schedule, there are those in favour of a longer and more gruelling season.

Former Ferrari team principal Stefano Demonicali is an example of such, with the Italian arguing last year that the current schedule offers a greater spectacle for fans.

'I speak with them (the drivers),' he told Sky Sports, 'If you want to drive, you can drive every day. If you don't want to drive in Formula One, it's not cumpulsory.

'It's a matter of respect for the fans. They want to see the drivers racing. It's something that we have, the responsibility of all our fans, partners, promoters, sponsors, broadcasters and everyone.'

The F1 returns this weekend with the Singapore Grand Prix.