Sergio Perez has reiterated his concerns regarding Formula 1’s growing calendar, claiming that the record 24 rounds planned this year is “too many.”
An already record 22-race calendar in 2023 has been bolstered for the coming term with the addition of the returning Chinese Grand Prix and the Emilia Romagna GP in Imola, which was cancelled last year due to severe flooding.
The expanding calendar is partly a product of the series’ financial and commercial growth, which several regions want to capitalise on.
However, Perez expressed concern regarding the health impacts on drivers, engineers and the entire F1 paddock during the launch of the Red Bull RB20 in Milton Keynes last Thursday.
“Yeah it’s too many, we know it’s too many races, we know it’s going to be a brutal calendar for all us involved in the sport, that’s why it’s important that we are able to manage our energy levels as best as possible,” Perez told select media including Motorsport Week in response to the 24 race calendar.
“Once the season has started it’s really important that we plan it well to make sure we stay as fresh as possible.
“It is going to be a lot of travelling throughout the year, a lot of commitments, but just staying as fresh as possible and as fit as possible is the main objective.”
“I think 20 races would be great, you know, with keeping up the quality, instead of the quantity, but that’s not for me to decide.”
The quality over quantity approach is a stance the Mexican driver held when probed on the subject ahead of last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi.
F1 had landed in Abu Dhabi mere days after the Las Vegas GP, with both races serving as a back-to-back to round out the 2023 season.
After a 22-race season, it was no surprise that a big topic of discussion was paddock fatigue, especially since the 2024 campaign will conclude with a triple header of Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
“I think this last part of the season has been super intense with the travelling backwards and forwards,” Perez said in November.
“The amount of races, is definitely at the limit, not just for the drivers, but also for all the mechanics out there. I think this schedule really has to be more efficient.
“And, yeah, try to look after everyone in this world a lot more, you know, and my main concern is on my mechanics really.
“I think we just have to make sure that we keep delivering and we just don’t make a lot of races for the sake of doing them.
“I think quality level is still very important to have in the sport to make sure we keep this upward route.
“I don’t remember seeing people so exhausted on the last race. And so I think it’s something that we got to be taking it very seriously.”
