Williams worried about 20-race calendars

(GMM) Sir Frank Williams has expressed concern about Bernie Ecclestone's plans to further expand the annual formula one calendar.

F1 supremo Ecclestone is already applying pressure for a minimally 20-race schedule in the near future, but team principal and grand prix stalwart Williams said the sport risks becoming less attractive for its workers.

"We have all lost people," he told Motorsport Aktuell, "who have not been able to withstand the enormous pressure and stresses of these calendars."

The largest exodus of paddock talent occurred in 2005, when the calendar blew out to an unprecedented 19 grands prix, before settling at seventeen this year.

Williams, 65, said the problem of expanding the calendar is not easily solved by simply cutting back further on private testing.

"Just as new aircraft need safety checks," he said, "we also need to test."

Williams warned: "It is inescapable that more test restrictions will lead to more accidents."