Sergio Perez has voiced his apprehensions regarding the escalating Formula 1 calendar, suggesting that the surge in the number of races could potentially curtail drivers’ careers in the sport.
Over the past few years, Formula 1 has witnessed a gradual increase in the number of races held in a single season. Originally slated to include 24 events this year, unforeseen circumstances led to the cancellation of races in China and Imola. However, both are poised to make a comeback in the upcoming season.
This trajectory places the 2024 F1 calendar on track to become the first-ever 24-race schedule in the history of the sport, marking a significant milestone.
Perez has expressed his reservations about the demanding schedule, emphasizing that the visible exhaustion of F1 personnel at the season’s end raises legitimate concerns.
“Obviously, it’s something that we’re going to raise up to try and then see what can be done. Probably now it’s [too] late for next year, but for the year after to really try to maximize it,” Perez conveyed to the media.
The driver, who competes for Red Bull, noted the toll on individuals involved in the sport, stating, “I never remember seeing people so exhausted at the last race. So I think it’s something that we got to be taking it very seriously.
“It’s important for the sport, for the drivers to obviously keep having these long careers that we’ve seen. For the staff from the mechanics, we want them to have very long careers as well. So I think it’s something we’ve got to consider.”
As the current 2023 F1 season concludes, teams and drivers are taking a break until the new year.
The 2024 season will kick off with official F1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, home of the Bahrain Grand Prix, from February 23 to 25, providing a glimpse into the challenges and excitement that lie ahead for the drivers and their teams.
