McLaren driver Lando Norris has expressed concern about the current length of the Formula 1 race calendar, stating that it is detrimental to the well-being of teams’ staff. The 2024 schedule is the longest in the history of the sport, consisting of 24 rounds, including six sprint weekends. Norris believes that adding more sprint races to an already crowded calendar is not sustainable in the long term. He emphasized that the main individuals affected by these packed schedules are the mechanics and team members, who have to endure minimal rest throughout the season.
During the press conference following the Chinese Grand Prix, Norris voiced his preference for the old, original 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 sequence of team dominance rather than a mix of competitive performances. However, his primary concern lies with the toll that the demanding schedule takes 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 address, but rather a concern that should be prioritized for the rest of the team. Ensuring the well-being of the mechanics and engineers should be the main focus in order to maintain a sustainable and healthy environment.
Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, both drivers in the Formula 1 championship, have expressed similar concerns about the current race calendar. Alonso, who recently signed a new contract with Aston Martin, mentioned the demanding and packed 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 he will not continue racing for another 10 years if the number of races remains at 24.
However, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali holds a different perspective. He believes that 24 races is the optimal number given the current events in the calendar. Domenicali took the responsibility to announce 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 it cannot be fully achieved. Domenicali is satisfied with the progress made in this direction and remains optimistic about the future.
In summary, Verstappen and Alonso have 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 in the calendar and has taken steps towards regionalizing it.