Williams Doubtful about French GP Prospects

Formula One team boss Frank Williams has cast doubt on the French Grand Prix being held this year.

"We are planning on 18 races, but I can't see how the French can afford to pay the teams the necessary amount of money to do an 18th race," he said at the launch of Williams' new FW26 car on Monday.

Formula One has never had more than 17 races in a season, but the current calendar has a provisional 18 rounds.

For that to happen, organisers of the financially-troubled French race on July 4 were told they had to agree a contract with commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone and secure the agreement of all 10 teams by last December 31.

The French organisers said before the end of last year that they had financial guarantees in place, but teams have yet to vote on competing at Magny-Cours.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) sources said no statement was expected from the governing body on Monday. Team bosses were due to meet in London on January 16 but a vote was likely before then.

Under the confidential Concorde Agreement governing the sport's commercial affairs, the maximum number of races is set at 17 and the teams have said they want compensation for any extra commitment.

That is expected to cost France a further $20 million, divided equally among the 10 teams. French newspapers have quoted the French federation president as saying his organisation will not agree to such payments.

Williams was more confident about the prospects of Bahrain hosting a race for the first time. The Middle East's debut is scheduled for April 4 but has been the subject of speculation concerning security.

"Security one reads about but I still take an optimistic view," he said. "One will have to make a judgement based on much more information closer to the date."