With six races coming up over the next seven weeks to conclude the 2024 season, Formula 1 offers an intense schedule for the teams and their staff, to the point where employee fatigue is necessarily a topic of discussion. Furthermore, and with new Concorde Agreements currently being negotiated, there could be up to 30 races per year in the future according to rumors, although FIA head Stefano Domenicali has often repeated that sport would not a priori exceed 25 in the past.
Should team leaders therefore step up to defend their staff? Or at least find a solution with the governing bodies to avoid reaching an unbearable situation for the entire paddock?
"I don’t think we’re trying to slow down the process," indicates for his part Laurent Mekies, the director of RB F1. “We have a responsibility towards our teams and we must ensure that the situation is livable for them. And we also have an enormous desire to perform to ensure that it is livable. Indeed, if our employees are exhausted after two or three years, it’s us who will suffer. So I know that each team already puts in place what suits them, whether it’s rotations or different working methods, in order. that we don’t lose our best people because of a busy schedule, so I don’t think we’re trying to slow down, that we’re saying there’s a maximum.”
“Of course, we all think that the current situation is probably about what we can handle. But we probably would have said the same thing when the numbers were 22, 20, 18 and probably 16. The good news is is that this is an era of cost caps. It is an extremely competitive sector. Therefore, to protect our competitiveness, we must ensure that we take care of our people. the number of races.”
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren F1, welcomes open discussions with decision-makers in the discipline. On the other hand, the American affirms for his part that the limit of races per season has already been reached.
“Formula 1 and the FIA are very collaborative and consultative on everything related to Formula 1. I think we have very good meetings with these bodies. As for the calendar, I think 24 is the maximum. Like I’ve said it before, I think there could be 20 fixed races and eight races that rotate every two years so that we can continue to develop the sport, because there is definitely a demand If we can. To be in 28 markets, I think that would be fantastic, but we can only do it 24 times a year.”
“So I think that’s how you solve the problem of growing the calendar. Stefano has done a very good job changing the calendar, but it’s always difficult because you have to take into account other sports , television, holidays So there is a domino effect: we could all say: this is what the calendar should look like But as soon as you add a holiday or a television problem, it creates a domino effect. So it’s not an easy task.”
“But they are very consultative and collaborative. They don’t surprise us and they listen to us. And like Laurent said, taking care of our staff is the number one priority. So we’re going to have to look at rotations and things of this nature, which we are already starting to do. I believe this is the first year that we are doing 24 races. In a few years, there will be people who will be very tired.
Having just arrived at the head of Alpine F1, Oliver Oakes also trusts Formula 1 and the FIA to keep the situation manageable for team personnel.
“Obviously I’ve only been here a very short time. But one thing Zak said, and it’s true, is the collaborative side. I was really surprised at how much we all want to fighting for every tenth on the track, but in terms of looking after our staff, the schedule, the best interests of the sport, it’s very collaborative and I think that’s really nice to see. thinks people are at the forefront of what we’re doing in these discussions. Stefano does a really good job of always keeping us in the loop in these discussions.”
