Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali Defends 24-Race Calendar Amid Driver Concerns
As the Formula 1 calendar continues to grow, reaching a record 24 races this season, many drivers have expressed concerns about the physical wellbeing of team members. However, Domenicali believes that 24 grand prix is not too much, citing the sport’s popularity and competitive order as reasons to maintain the current schedule.
In an interview with Auto, Motor und Sport, Domenicali argued that Formula 1 is not oversupplying the market, comparing it to other sports like football and basketball, which have a much more intense schedule. “I don’t think 24 grand prix is an oversupply,” he said. “Look at other sports. Football and basketball are played every other day. They entertain their fans much more intensively. In terms of quantity, we have a lot less content to offer.“
Despite his confidence in the current schedule, not everyone agrees with Domenicali’s sentiment. McLaren’s Lando Norris has voiced concerns about the impact of 24 races on team members, stating that it’s “not healthy for them.” Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen have also expressed similar sentiments, with Alonso calling the current number of rounds “not sustainable for the future” and Verstappen claiming that F1 is “way over the limit.“
However, Domenicali is committed to maintaining the 24-race calendar, citing the excitement and closeness of the competition as reasons to keep the schedule intact. “Too much of what? When the sport is as good as it is right now with many possible winners, fans are counting the days until the next race,” he said. “I mean, we have a field that is closer together than ever before. Today we are talking about intervals of 0.078 or 0.093 seconds. That’s less than a tenth for a lap of more than four or five kilometers. Distances like we see in a 100-meter run.“
Domenicali also highlighted the unique character of each event, citing the Monaco Grand Prix as an example. “Each of our events has its own character. I mean, the Monaco Grand Prix was certainly not the most exciting grand prix in history, but we had one of the best TV ratings anywhere in the world.“
With countries like Thailand and South Korea eager to host a Grand Prix in the near future, Domenicali is considering a rotation system to accommodate new territories. “We are thinking about a rotation system,” he said. “It is likely that we will start doing this in Europe.” This approach would allow for a balance between old and new races, ensuring that new territories can host a Grand Prix while maintaining the current schedule.
As the debate around the Formula 1 calendar continues, Domenicali’s commitment to maintaining the 24-race schedule is clear. With the sport’s popularity soaring and the competitive order tighter than ever, it will be interesting to see how the calendar evolves in the coming years.
🔗 Source