The McLaren driver, Lando Norris, expressed concern about the current length of the Formula 1 race calendar, stating that it is detrimental to the team’s well-being. The 2024 calendar is the longest in the sport’s history, with 24 races, including six short race weekends. Norris believes that adding more short races to an already packed calendar is not sustainable in the long run. He emphasized that the main affected by these tight schedules are the mechanics and team members, who have to endure minimal rest throughout the season.
During the press conference after the Chinese Grand Prix, Norris expressed his preference for the old race format. He explained that this is what he grew up watching and what he has always enjoyed the most. Norris appreciates the immediate pressure of going straight into qualifying after a single practice session. He believes that this format prevents teams from achieving the perfect car setup and instead leads to a string of team dominance rather than a mix of competitive performances. However, his main concern is related to the impact that the demanding schedule has on the mechanics and engineers. He acknowledges that as drivers, they cannot complain about the workload, but it is the hundreds of mechanics and engineers who travel extensively and suffer the most. Norris emphasizes that this is not a problem for the drivers to solve, but rather a concern that should be prioritized for the rest of the team. Ensuring the well-being of mechanics and engineers should be the main focus to maintain a sustainable and healthy environment.
Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, both Formula 1 championship drivers, expressed similar concerns regarding the current race calendar. Alonso, who recently signed a new contract with Aston Martin, mentioned the demanding and crowded schedules as a reason for doubt. He highlighted the increase in the number of races from 16 to 18 and then to 20 when Liberty Media took over, and now it has reached 24 races per season. According to Alonso, this is not sustainable for the future of the sport. Verstappen also shares this sentiment, stating that he believes F1 has exceeded its limit and that he will not continue racing for another 10 years if the number of races remains at 24.
However, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has a different perspective. He believes that 24 races is the ideal number, given the current circumstances of the calendar. Domenicali took on the responsibility of announcing the calendar earlier than usual this year, allowing teams and promoters to prepare in advance. He sees this as a step towards regionalizing the calendar, although this cannot be fully achieved. Domenicali is pleased with the progress made in this direction and remains optimistic about the future.
In summary, Verstappen and Alonso expressed concerns about the sustainability of the current race calendar, emphasizing the increase in the number of races. On the other hand, Domenicali believes that 24 races is the right number considering the events on the calendar and has taken steps to regionalize it.
© 2024
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