18 or 19 races in 2008 – Bernie

(GMM) F1's annual schedule could increase to 18 or 19 races next year, and twenty by 2010.

That is the insistence of the calendar's author Bernie Ecclestone, who looks set to sweep aside complaints that formula one is already arduous with 17 grands prix in '07.

The 76-year-old Briton rejected McLaren boss Ron Dennis' suggestion in Malaysia that too many races every year could start to dilute people's interest in F1.

"Well, people follow football and there are millions of matches," Bernie responded on Sunday in an interview with the Straits Times newspaper.

"What we have to do is extend the championship period. At the moment we have a four-and-a-half month off-period, so we can start a bit earlier and end a bit later."