Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that two races will need to be dropped in the very near future if the calendar is to remain at 20 races, with the introduction of the United States Grand Prix in 2013 and Russia in 2014.
The two events most likely to be axed, according to Ecclestone are, Australia and one of the Spanish races – of which there are currently two; Barcelona and Valencia, the latter running under the ‘European’ title.
“We are probably going to have to drop two races to fit in Austin and Russia,” Ecclestone told the Express newspaper.
This years season opener in Australia could very well be its last after the state lost £26.1 million hosting the race, though the economic impact on the region far outweighs the loss.
![Max Verstappen has been praised by Honda president Koji Watanabe [front, third from right]](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Max-Verstappen-Honda-Red-Bull-120x86.webp)
The Lord Mayor has prompted calls for the government not to renew the contract in 2015, with the possibility of cancelling it earlier.
“Australia are saying they don’t want a race,” added the 80-year-old. “If Australia want to go, they can go and the next one is maybe one of the races in Spain.
“We will have to have only one race per country in future.”
A suggestion put forward by the F1 supremo is to alternate between the two circuits in Spain, much like they do in Germany to spread the cost.
“We are alternating in Germany so maybe that’s what we will do in Spain,” he concluded.
![Max Verstappen has been praised by Honda president Koji Watanabe [front, third from right]](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Max-Verstappen-Honda-Red-Bull-350x250.webp)
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