George Russell picks sides as FIA president questions F1 chief over 2024 problem
As the Formula 1 schedule continues to expand, there will be a record-breaking 24 Grands Prix next season. However, Mercedes star George Russell and FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem have expressed concerns regarding the schedule. George Russell has expressed his concerns regarding the expansion of Formula 1, which will see a record number of 24 races next season.
This year, there were 22 races. The Chinese Grand Prix was canceled because of “ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 situation,” and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was canceled just days before it was supposed to happen because of huge flooding in the area.
Both those occasions are back on the schedule for the 2024 season, however Russell is concerned the timetable is becoming unreasonable. ” “I’ve got so many ill mechanics, people in the engineers’ office,” he said. “Everyone up and down the paddock.”
“They have really struggled with the constant changes in timezones, the body not knowing where it is, eating at various times, staying in various hotels, different environments, and different climates. The body is becoming disoriented.
“I think speaks for the following year about faculty are being directed, that they can’t do each and every race. I feel that would be something to be thankful for. I don’t believe it’s feasible for 4,000 individuals, I think it is, to complete 24 races a season, particularly when you perceive how geologically it actually doesn’t check out.”
The schedule has also been criticized by the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, echoing Russell’s concerns about “fatigue.” He said: ” I believe that better planning the calendar to take into account the weather and the general well-being of all F1 employees is the best solution.
“The staff’s exhaustion must be taken into consideration. 23 races, that causes a ton of exhaustion. Imagine a scenario where they commit an error because of exhaustion. It can adversely affect us all.”
However, F1 is in charge of setting the schedule, and president and CEO Stefano Domenicali thinks that 24 races are the “right number.” He explained the situation when he appeared on the Beyond The Grid podcast earlier this year: 24 seems like a good number for what we want to accomplish in the coming year.
“It is the number that the market requires. I would agree that it’s the right harmony between that, the intricacy of the strategies and of individuals that are working. I would agree that this is the number which we ought to focus to be steady for quite a while.”
Following the declaration of the following year’s timetable, Domenicali added: ” There is colossal interest and proceeded with interest for Recipe 1, and I accept this schedule finds some kind of harmony between customary races and new and existing settings.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the promoters and partners for their help and effort in achieving this fantastic schedule. As part of our commitment to Net Zero by 2030, we will continue our journey toward a calendar that is more environmentally friendly in the coming years by further streamlining our operations.”
