As the Formula 1 calendar expands but once more to 24 races in 2024, racers and their groups might be pressured past breaking with intercontinental journey, and an ever rising variety of back-to-back race weekends. The 2023 season ended with seven Grands Prix in 9 weeks. Mercedes driver George Russell has not too long ago been fairly vocal about lowering the variety of races that a person non-driver member of the crew can attend. Is there a cause a knowledge engineer or proper entrance tire changer must be at each race?
Last weekend’s race in Abu Dhabi got here simply days after the end of the premier race in Las Vegas. Between the time zone shifts, the races happening at night time, and several other hours of flights in between, the groups didn’t have a lot time for relaxation and leisure. Not solely does this have an effect on how properly the crew can perform as a bunch, but it surely invitations sickness into the paddock, doubtlessly spreading to the drivers themselves. Russell admitted that he had a horrible fever in Las Vegas and had hassle sleeping, and it developed right into a relentless cough for the race in Abu Dhabi.
He’s fast to make clear that he’s not making excuses for himself or the 19 different drivers on the grid.
“The drivers, we have it the best from every single person in this paddock,” Russell advised RacingNews365.
“The way we travel, we’re in a very fortunate position, but everybody up and down the paddock – I’ve got so many mechanics who are ill, people in the engineers’ office, just really struggling with the constant time zone shifts, the body not knowing where you are, eating at different times, staying in different hotels, different environments, different climates.
“The body’s getting confused. I think there are talks for next year about personnel being regulated that they can’t do every single race.
“I think that would be a good thing. I don’t think it’s sustainable for 4,000 people to do 24 races a season, especially when you see how geographically it still doesn’t make a huge amount of sense.”
The geographic nonsense of the 2024 calendar is really one thing to behold. The groups will spend May and June ping-ponging between Miami, Italy, Monaco, then again throughout the Atlantic to Montreal, Canada, earlier than jetting again to Spain. That doesn’t look like an environment friendly use of airplanes, or the groups’ time, frankly. F1 calls it “big steps forward in regionalisation” however I’d say there’s nonetheless some work to be achieved.
If this calendar goes to be so grueling, the sequence ought to institute a rule precluding most crew members from attending all 24 rounds. Not solely would this imply a extra humane working schedule, however it could assist preserve the drivers safer. Unfortunately that transfer would doubtless want to come back with a rise within the sum of money groups can spend in a season to cowl additional salaries and extra journey. Don’t fear, Red Bull can write it off on their catering finances.
Source: jalopnik.com