Formula 1 has never been more popular, but its calendar is becoming a real headache. With 24 races and six sprints scheduled for 2024, the paddock is facing an intense pace.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, is sounding the alarm. The limits have been reached, he says, and the future of this relentless race model is in question. But what’s really wrong with this oversized calendar, and what solutions are being considered?
Read more:
- Less than $200 per horsepower: this new Chevrolet humiliates Ferrari and Lamborghini with an absolutely unbeatable power-to-price ratio
- Tesla’s first failure? Elon Musk halts Cybertruck production due to 3 major challenges
An oversized calendar: All for the show, but at what cost?
Formula 1 has grown globally in recent years, thanks in part to initiatives like Netflix’s Drive to Survive. However, this expansion comes with consequences. With 24 races scheduled in 2024, plus six sprints, drivers, mechanics, and engineers are enduring an intense year. Long working hours and constant international travel are wearing down the teams. Despite attempts to group races by region to limit travel, the problem persists. Helmut Marko laments an imbalance: “This pace exhausts team members,” he explains. For mechanics, events like the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with late hours and endless workdays, are nearly unbearable. After 14 to 16 hours of working on the cars, preparations for the race often continue into hours when the body craves rest. These less-than-ideal working conditions could eventually impact teams’ overall performance and even their long-term competitiveness.
A necessary reorganization: Marko proposes solutions
At 81 years old, Marko knows what he’s talking about, even if he’s no longer in the thick of operations. He suggests a possible reorganization of teams, with staff rotations to ease the workload. This system, already used in other disciplines like WEC or NASCAR, could provide some much-needed relief. However, F1’s budget cap complicates the implementation of such changes. How can human and financial balance be reconciled while maintaining a high-level spectacle? It’s a real puzzle for the FIA. Additionally, the current system, where almost every team member attends nearly all the races, could be rethought for a more flexible model. Teams could reduce employee stress and prevent burnout. However, this would require a thorough review of logistics and major budget adjustments.
Global expansion and tradition: Finding the right balance
Formula 1 aims to attract new audiences with glamorous destinations like Miami or Las Vegas, but some purists lament the loss of the sport’s soul. “Races like Monza or Spa have a historic culture that must be preserved,” Marko insists. The balance between modernity and tradition has become a crucial issue. The current calendar, focused on modern and lucrative destinations, could eventually dilute the essence of F1, which has been built on iconic circuits and a unique atmosphere. Finding a compromise between expansion and respecting the sport’s historical values is essential for both fans and teams. If F1 wants to continue growing without exhausting its teams or disappointing its loyal fans, adjustments will need to be made, whether in the number of races or their geographical distribution.
This article explores the challenges of an ever-expanding F1 calendar, the solutions proposed by Helmut Marko to protect the teams, and the tensions between tradition and modernity in this evolving sport. The show is on, but at what cost?
Images: © Ferrari Media
