Quantity over Quality? F1 Drivers Say 2024 Longest-Ever Schedule Is Pushing the Limit

Leading Formula 1 drivers believe the length of a championship season is now at—or over—the limit, as the paddock gears up for its busiest ever campaign.

Formula 1’s 2024 season will begin in Bahrain on Saturday (March 2) and conclude over nine months later in Abu Dhabi (December 8).

The 24-event campaign is the longest in Formula 1 history, with last year’s record-equaling 22 grands prix joined by returnees Emilia Romagna and China.

The majority of recent new additions to the expanding schedule, such as Saudi Arabia (2021), Miami (2022), Qatar and Las Vegas (2023), also involve longer trips due to their locations away from Formula 1’s European bases, as the championship strives to cash in on new money.

Several Formula 1 teams have responded to the expanding calendar by rotating personnel where possible but drivers are wary of the added demand placed upon the championship.

“I feel already that we’re way over the limit of races,” said World Champion Max Verstappen. “So for me personally I know I’m of course super young and I also know that I’m not doing this for another 10 years, doing 24 races.

“I think it’s about the quality over quantity. From my side I’ve said it before — this is not sustainable. I love racing a lot and I do it a lot also outside of Formula 1. But at one point if you start looking into the quality of life and how much you are away for doing this project, at that point I prefer probably to just be at home and focus on other projects because this is crazy.

“I love it and now it’s not a problem, but I know that in a couple of years’ time it’s very different.”

Lewis Hamilton commented that “we are on the limit already” and agreed that “we have to be conscious of quality versus quantity,” while also highlighting sustainability and environmental concerns.

Fernando Alonso, set to contest his 21st season in the championship, was another to agree with the concerns raised.

“I think we are well over the limit,” said the Aston Martin racer. “When I started [in 2001] we had 16 races, then it was 18 at some point, and then I think when Liberty [Media] came it was like a message that we have 20 one season and that was absolutely the limit, 20 races, and now we are up to 24 and this is not sustainable for the future.

“Even the World Champion thinks this is a little bit long the season, imagine for the rest of us, we go to the races in the second half for nothing, there is no incentive to fight for anything.”