Sainz believes that the FIA needs to rework its calendar, as it is too demanding
In 2023, the calendar was the longest in the history of an F1 championship. Between series shootings and opening ceremonies, the drivers are exhausted.
The calendar has once again grown with an additional race in 2023, and this will be the case again in 2024. Formula 1 is organizing more and more races during its seasons. The goal is to offer a more competitive World Championship (in theory) and, above all, to generate more income with additional entertainment.
If in 2024 the calendar has been optimized to avoid frequent continent switches, and thus make travels shorter, the 2023 season saw several back-and-forth journeys.
Weekends too busy
In line with this desire to create more spectacle, Formula 1 organized an “American-style” ceremony in Miami and a gigantic event to inaugurate the Las Vegas Grand Prix. All the drivers were invited to be introduced to the public. However, this event adds an extra workload and a dose of emotions for the drivers during this 23rd race of the season. Additionally, in the same week, the athletes had a sequence to shoot for the Netflix series, adding more constraints. Even though they have access to the best hotels and luxurious facilities, the seasons are too packed, explains Carlos Sainz Jr.
“The weekends start almost earlier,” explained the Spanish pilot. “We are adding races to the calendar and we are reaching a point where I think sometimes everything seems a bit repetitive, and everything seems a bit overloaded. We might be trying to do a bit too much. I think there are things that are done a lot for the sport. It’s good to put on a show. But on the other hand, there are other things that seem very repetitive and don’t seem to be perceived that way. Add some more for the weekend.”
Pilots prefer to stay sober
The F1 is trying to reinvent itself. In line with its desire to conquer the American market, the competition “becomes more American” in its formats: grand ceremonies, emphasis on entertainment… however, the drivers are not necessarily fans of these changes as they hinder their ability to focus before races.
“« It’s definitely more of a show now than it was a few years ago,” said Lando Norris. “« To be honest, I just want to come here and drive. I’ve never been the biggest fan of doing this kind of thing like we did earlier. It’s not what I enjoy doing. I know that a lot of things are just a part of it and I’m not against it. It’s a business and all these things, that’s just how they have to work in the end.”
Last season, F1 had experimented with two-hour press conferences on Fridays before the practice sessions. The aim was to introduce the drivers at this time and give them media-free time for the rest of the weekend. However, in response to criticism regarding the duration and limited time before the practice sessions, the governing body decided to backtrack, adopting the current format in 2023.
