What is the ideal length for a Formula 1 season?

Although the FIA ratified the 21-race schedule proposed to them by Liberty for 2019, there are moves to include another round in the United States, while Vietnam is keen to get in on the act and reportedly there is interest from several potential hosts.

Clearly, two schools of thought have emerged with one side wanting a packed season calendar, while the other faction would welcome a return to 16 rounds.

Last month, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff called for 15 to 16 races on the calendar "This means less revenue in the short term, but a more exclusive and valuable product in the long term. This would help to pick up some of the young people who have a shorter window of attention due to the new digital formats."

But Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul does not agree, "If you have 15 boring races people will not watch any more. No, I think we should have around 20, 22 races - and I think this is a good number. We also should not forget that we are a global player. Therefore we need a certain number of races to stay a global player."

The Red Bull camp are on the same page with team principal Christian Horner weighing in with his opinion, "To go as low as 15 or 16 I think is too low. I think that 21 is the upper end."

"There's only so many chapters you can have in a book and I think at some point you go beyond what's relevant. It's tough for the guys in the garage, for the travelling staff. It's tough for everybody involved."

He is backed by his Toro Rosso counterpart Franz Tost, "I would absolutely refuse to go below 20 races. The year has 52 weeks, therefore we have a lot of time."

An F1 Fan Voice survey (below) reveals that 50% of respondents are comfortable with between 20 and 22 championship rounds, with over 20% happy to have an even longer season, while about 16% were into a 17 to 19 round season.