The 2023 Formula 1 season next year could be the longest ever. A total of 24 races is assumed. Las Vegas will host a grand prix for the first time, while racing in Qatar will return to the calendar. There is also a lot of speculation about a return to South Africa and China, for which other venues would have to vacate their place.
Either way, the number of Grands Prix and the increasing internationalization of the racing calendar will further increase the workload for the teams. In 2018, the first triple header in Formula 1 history took place with the races in France, Austria and Great Britain and those involved agreed at the time that this attempt should be left as is.
However, three races in a row have now become a regular part of the calendar, while double headers are now the norm. The 2022 Miami Grand Prix was the last standalone race of the current season. Therefore, the question arises whether with 24 or more races in the season, four races in a row will soon be the order of the day?
The team bosses downplay such a scenario when asked about it. “I think this season is a bit different because we end up having the World Cup and we’re retiring a bit earlier than usual,” said Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur.
McLaren CEO Brown would be surprised
“But alternating two races in a row and then having a weekend break is a good system I think. Teams are fine with that and if you finish the season in early December like we’ve done in the past and not already in mid-November , it will also be a lot easier to avoid the triple headers.”
“I would be surprised if we did four races in a row,” adds McLaren CEO Zak Brown. “That being said I think it also depends on what part of the world you are in as all the teams are based in the UK or Europe. So whether you have back-to-back races where you can go home in between or you traveling in Asia or similar regions.”
What is clear is that Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is working on a regional calendar for the coming year to facilitate logistics. A scenario like mid-June, when Formula 1 drove a week to Azerbaijan in Montreal, 9,000 kilometers away, should be avoided in the future.
“I think you have to see where the double and triple headers take place,” says Williams team boss Jost Capito. “When they’re very close together it’s a very different situation than when they’re in completely different time zones. In different time zones it’s very difficult for the team, but if the distance isn’t that big then it’s quite doable. “
“Triple headers are a killer for staff”
“I think making the calendar more regional is the way to go,” said Mike Krack, Aston Martin Team Principal. “Triple headers are a killer for staff. If we can get a handle on those two things, I think we can do 22, 23 or 24 races.”
‘The team managers therefore see no problems for the racing calendar for the 2023 season due to the propagated regional composition. Since the end of the season is expected to be mid-December again and there will also be one less winter test, there is also more room for manoeuvre.
“Purely in terms of the number of events, the 2023 season will not be more demanding than the 2022 season,” says McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl. “This year, for example, we have two tests, next year only one. As a replacement, we probably have one more race weekend.”
“Tests are [vom Aufwand her] practically equivalent to a Grand Prix,” he explains. “So it’s the same challenge. But I hope that with the measures taken within the team, we can help every team member to be able to contest the season in the long term.”
“All in all, hopefully we can take a step forward, but I’m not saying it’s going to get any better. The burden on people is still very high. But I think, especially if you arrange the races in a different order and grouped by region, then hopefully that will help to make it sustainable for everyone involved,” says Seidl.
AlphaTauri team boss Tost sees no problem
As always, AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost is hard in life and sees no problem in extending the calendar: “The more races we do, the better it is and the more income we have. That’s why I’m looking forward to the 24 races.”
“At the end of the day, we can’t just see the downside of what we actually do, which is a job that half the world would love to do,” adds Vasseur. “I’m in love with the business and I don’t care if it’s 23 or 24 races.”
According to Brown, the difference between 23 or 24 races is “not significant” anyway, although the well-being of employees is very important to McLaren: “The well-being of our racing team, both on the road and in the factory – because they work long hours, even if they don’t travel – is always of paramount importance.”
“But I think the increase in races can be absorbed with a little optimization and regionalization of the calendar,” says the McLaren CEO. Captito agrees: “We must not forget that it is still a privilege to work in Formula 1 and it will be if there are 23 or 24 races.”