(Pirelli Motorsport Media)
Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery has admitted that the Italian company would be happy for there to be more Grand Prix on the calendar however he has warned that it would be a 'logistical nightmare'. This season Formula One will travel to Sochi for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix as the sport branching out even further from Europe.
Earlier this season it was announced that Azerbaijan had signed a contract to host a Grand Prix from 2016 onwards and it has confirmed that that race will be the new European Grand Prix previously held at the Valencia Street circuit and also the Nurburgring in Germany.
Formula One is also at some stage in the future due to race on a street circuit in New Jersey. Hembery believes the more Grand Prix there are the better value that everyone involved in the sport will get.
The increase in the number of Grand Prix also means that the sport will reach a greater fan base which is ideal due to the fact that the popularity of the sport has reportedly waned the season. There are currently 19 Grand Prix on the calendar for 2014.
In 2015, Formula One will have up to 21 Grand Prix on the calendar with the introduction of Mexico and a return to the Budh International circuit for the Indian Grand Prix also on the cards.
The introduction of more Grand Prix also makes commercial sense for the sport in particular for the likes of Pirelli who are not just involved in the sport as tyre supplier as they are also involved a sponsorship level. The company currently sponsors the Hungarian Grand Prix which sees their branding feature prominently track side.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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