According to McLaren driver Lando Norris, an F1 calendar with 24 race weekends is terribly taxing and ‘not healthy’, especially for the teams’ staff. F1 boss Stefano Domenicali, however, has a remarkably different view.
In recent years, the F1 calendar has systematically grown to a record number of 24 races. Add six sprint races and there are actually no fewer than thirty races taking place. According to Lando Norris, a terrible schedule that makes the workload almost unbearable for many team members because there are almost no periods in which the staff and drivers can regain their strength, especially with race weekends in which both a sprint race and a race take place.
“I prefer the old original format,” said Norris, according to ‘Racefans’. “That’s what I grew up with when I watched Formula 1, that’s what I always enjoyed the most.”
“I like to be under immediate pressure. So the fact that we only have one practice session and then a qualifying session, I like that?”
“It gives everyone less chance to perfect the car, from that perspective it works. But the most important point is the toll it takes on the mechanics and engineers. I honestly don’t think it’s too bad for us as riders. I don’t think we’re the ones who should complain.”
“It’s the hundreds of mechanics and engineers who are here during the race weekends and who have to travel so much. It is not healthy for them, not sustainable to maintain.”
“The problem is not ours, so it is not something you should ask us. It’s something that needs to be looked at more for the rest of the team.”
“I also think it is a limiting factor, not whether we can be in the car every day, because I don’t think we can do too much for them. It is our priority.”
Max Verstappen also agrees that with 24 race weekends and six sprint races, a kind of limit has been reached.
“We already do 24 races a year, six sprint weekends. I understand that it is commercially interesting, that it is better for the TV figures. But it also puts more stress and burden on the mechanics and so on, to get everything ready on time.”
“We do it, we have to accept it, but let us not think that we have to do twelve such race weekends with a sprint format because that will take its toll on the people.”
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were certainly not the only drivers to express their concerns, but F1 boss Stefano Domenicali defends the choice for the current F1 calendar with 24 race weekends, six of which have a sprint format.
“I think 24 is the optimal number with the events we have so far,” Domenicali told Sky Sports F1. “The good news this year is that I felt it was my responsibility to the teams and the promoter to announce the F1 calendar much earlier than we normally do to ensure that everyone can prepare as best as possible.”
“It’s another step towards trying to further regionalize the F1 calendar. We cannot do that completely, but we have taken a step in the right direction, I am satisfied with that.”
Stefano Domenicali also lashed out at the riders’ criticism. He makes it clear that they can always leave the sport if they don’t like it.
“I think 24 races is better than 12 races,” said Domenicali. “I talk to them. If they want to race, they can race every day, if you don’t want to race in Formula 1, it is not an obligation.”
“It’s a matter of respect for the fans. They want to see them race. It’s something we need, respect for all our fans, our partners, our promoters, our sponsors, our TV channels, everyone.”
“The magic of the sport we experience because we need heroes who enjoy what they do. I’m sure they’ll enjoy it.”