The American, who is currently on a break from his role as the head of Renault-owned Alpine, expressed his belief that Formula 1 could handle an increased number of races with careful planning. He suggested that a total of 25 to 30 races would be suitable, although this viewpoint may be controversial in a sport that is concerned about the well-being of its staff. According to him, expanding to 30 races would involve having two teams within each team, resulting in a less demanding workload for each team member compared to the current setup. Szafnauer, who has previously held leadership positions at Aston Martin and Force India/Racing Point, started contemplating the logistics of keeping employees satisfied and accommodating more races during his time at Alpine. Following his departure, the Soft Pauer company, which he co-founded and was responsible for creating the original F1 timing app, introduced the EventR app to facilitate group travel for racing teams. Szafnauer expressed his support for Liberty Media’s approach to gradually expanding the sport, particularly in the United States, where there are now three races. He believes that Formula 1 is a global sport and questioned whether the calendar should include 25, 26, or even 27 races. Drawing a comparison to the NASCAR stock car series, which previously had over 40 races in the United States before settling on 36, he suggested that a sustainable number of races worldwide could be 26 or 28, provided that the logistics and human element are properly addressed. Szafnauer acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of creative thinking in finding solutions. Under the leadership of former F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the calendar did not exceed 17 races until 2004. It gradually increased to 20 races in 2012 and reached 21 in 2016. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated last year that 24 races was the optimal number, although he also acknowledged the interest from promoters for more races, with the sport aiming to include a race in Africa and adding Madrid as a new venue in 2026. In contrast, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the governing FIA, believes that the sport should prioritize having more teams and fewer races.
This year’s schedule spans from March 2 to December 8, featuring three sets of consecutive races, including the final one that will take teams from Las Vegas to Qatar, culminating in an Abu Dhabi finale on successive weekends.
Ever since Bahrain held the inaugural grand prix in the Middle East in 2004, the sport has expanded its global reach, hosting lucrative races in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and Qatar.
Szafnauer acknowledged that there will come a time when teams, now financially stable due to a larger share of revenues and a budget cap that allows for additional races, will divide the season between two crews to alleviate the workload.
At Alpine, he attempted to initiate this process by offering a potential strategic hire the opportunity to work at the racetrack for 10 races and at the factory for 10 races, with four “wild card” options.
“The wild card entails selecting four races that you won’t attend either remotely or at the racetrack,” he explained. “People often find that it consumes too much of their lives, causing them to miss important events such as birthdays and weddings. However, there is a solution.”
“My solution was to propose, out of the 24 races, participating in 20 and having four wild cards. Simply inform us in advance which races will be the wild cards, and we will accommodate accordingly,” revealed Szafnauer. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)