Next season, Formula 1 will have 24 races, which is the most ever in the history of the sport.
The schedule for Formula 1 this year, with 23 events, would have been a record-breaker, but the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix had to be canceled due to the severe rainfall that devastated the area. The Imola circuit in Italy is scheduled to host the seventh race on May 19, 2024.
The Chinese Grand Prix is also returning to the calendar. It was last held in 2019 at the Shanghai International Circuit. Formula 1 has a contract with the Chinese race promoter until 2025. Next year’s Grand Prix, the fifth race of the season, will take place on April 21.
“Now, there are a lot more people who love racing and Formula 1 that can’t get enough to go back — including myself — for this Grand Prix,” said Zhou Guanyu from China, who drives an Alfa Romeo.
All 22 Grands Prix on the calendar for 2023 have been retained. Fifteen of them are outside Western Europe, where most of the sports personnel is based. The season begins on March 2 2 in Bahrain and ends on December 8 8 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
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Stefano Domenicali is the C.E.O. of Formula One. He said, “There’s a huge demand and interest for Formula 1 and I think this calendar strikes the perfect balance between traditional races as well as new and existing venues.”
Some events have been moved to the schedule in order to make travel easier. These include those in Japan, Azerbaijan, and Qatar.
There are still some uncomfortable trips. Three events are held in the United States, each with a different date. Miami is the sixth round, on May 5; Austin, Texas the 19th, on October 20; and Las Vegas, the 22nd, on November 23. The third round in Australia on March 24 is far away from other races, but the next race is in Japan on April 7. Canada’s ninth round, on June 9, is also by itself in a series of European events.
He said, “I would say that 24 is a large number.” “If I were to choose a number that was perfect, I’d say closer to 20.” The lives of mechanics and engineers, as well as everyone who travels, are more difficult for them because they’re often away from their families, children, etc., for a longer period.
Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin raced for the first time in a Grand Prix event in 2001. At that time, there were 17 races, of which six were held outside of Europe.
“I can see the advantages of 24 races. There is a great deal of interest and demand in Formula 1. It’s good that we go to new races and countries. We also get new revenue,” said he. “But for team members, I think 18 is a great number. You start to stress the media and the mechanics if you go over 18-19. “Everyone is on the backfoot from February to December.”
When possible, teams rotate their staff to allow them time off. The winter shutdown, when all sites working on cars are closed for nine days, and the August break of 14 days is another option. The drivers and other stakeholders are also aware of oversaturation. This is especially true with the addition of sprint racing this year, which was held on the day prior to the main race in six Grands Prix.
It is important to strike a balance between maintaining historic venues like Silverstone, England, and Monaco while also seeking out new ones. Formula 1 events in the Middle East have all signed contracts that extend into 2030, while older European events, like those in France and Germany, are under shorter agreements. Monaco and Italy’s contracts expire after 2025, while Belgium’s contract ends at the end of this year.
“The sport is looking to expand its calendar even more. You can see that a lot the new venues coming to Formula 1 this year are commercial venues like Miami or Vegas,” said Stoffel Vandoorne. He raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018 and is now a reserve driver for Aston Martin and McLaren. “They are going to big places, and that is fine. Absolutely fine. But I still believe there should be a mixture of both on calendar to keep these old-school races like Spa in Belgium, or Suzuka in Japan.”
It’s not a new thing to add races. Saudi Arabia and Qatar will be added in 2021. Miami in 2022. Las Vegas this year. Each promoter pays Formula 1 a hosting charge, increasing its revenue. This, in turn, increases the prize money for teams.
The Concorde Agreement, signed by Formula 1, F.I.A. The F.I.A. and the teams have agreed to a limit of 24 Grands Prix per year. However, other venues are being investigated.
Formula 1 has been aiming to return to Africa for a long time as it strives to race on every continent. The Kyalami circuit in South Africa last hosted a Grand Prix back in 1993.
