George Russell picks sides as FIA president questions F1 chief over 2024 problem

06 December 2023 , 14:01

923     0

Mercedes driver George Russell is concerned about the F1 schedule (Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

George Russell has shared his concerns about Formula 1's expansion, with a record 24 races set to take place next season.

Twenty-two races were held this year, with the Chinese Grand Prix cancelled due to "ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 situation" and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix called off just days before it was due to take place after massive flooding in the local area.

Both those events are back on the calendar for the 2024 season, but Russell is concerned the schedule is becoming unsustainable. "Everybody up and down the paddock – I've got so many mechanics who are ill, people in the engineers' office," he said.

"They have really struggled with the constant timezone 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, I think it is, to do 24 races a season, especially when you see how geographically it still doesn't make a huge amount of sense."

Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has also criticised the schedule, echoing Russell's concerns about "fatigue". He said: "The best solution, I believe, is arranging the calendar better to take account of climatic conditions and the general well-being of all the people working in F1.

"We have to consider the fatigue of the staff. Twenty-three races, that causes a lot of fatigue. What if they make a mistake due to fatigue? It can have a negative impact on all of us."

F1 are responsible for deciding the schedule, however, and president and CEO Stefano Domenicali believes that 24 races is the "right number" to have. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast earlier this year, he explained: "What we want to do next year is 24 and I think 24 is the right number.

FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem has also voiced concerns about the schedule, but F1 chief Stefano Domenicali believes 24 races is ideal (Getty Images)

"It's the number that is required within the market. I would say it's the right balance between that, the complexity of the logistics and of the people that are working. I would say this is the number which we should target to be stable for a long time."

Following the announcement of next year's schedule, Domenicali added: "There is huge interest and continued demand for Formula 1, and I believe this calendar strikes the right balance between traditional races and new and existing venues.

"I want to thank all of the promoters and partners for their support and effort to achieve this great schedule. Our journey to a more sustainable calendar will continue in the coming years as we further streamline operations as part of our Net Zero 2030 commitment."

Matthew Cooper