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The principal of a Formula 1 team has called for a major redesign of the race calendar to change the format of race weekends.
James Vowles, who leads Williams, has proposed an innovative idea he believes fans will appreciate.
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Ongoing conversations center around the workloads of drivers, especially in a season featuring 24 races and six sprint events.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have both previously raised concerns about the increasing race count, suggesting it imposes too much pressure on drivers.
However, Vowles contends that the number of races isn’t the issue; he advocates for trimming the weekend to just two days.
This adjustment would lead to fewer practice sessions while still enhancing the thrill of the races for fans.
He expressed to the Business of Sport: “I don’t think we have too many races, but I wouldn’t want to exceed our current number since we ask people to stay engaged for half the year.”
“That means Formula One occupies half of your weekends. I believe we’re approaching our limits there.”
“My recommendation is to adopt two-day weekends. It would take place on Saturday and Sunday, and here’s my reasoning.
“As I mentioned, treating 24 races as the maximum, I wouldn’t worry about the overall count because we’d eliminate Friday, which is one less day.”
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“By introducing a few more race weekends, the total race time would remain consistent. I believe we can monetize it differently.”
“In addition, I think the quality of the product would improve because we currently have a lot of practice sessions. If we limit those and allow only one hour before qualifying, the dynamics will change significantly.”
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“This shift would result in more variability and unpredictability in race outcomes.”
The number of grand prix events has increased from 22 to 24 at the start of the 2024 season.
In recent years, the series has expanded significantly, with the first 20-race season introduced in 2012.
Vowles’ suggestion might find favor with drivers, especially as Verstappen has highlighted the stress on mechanics—a concern that fewer practice sessions could address.
He remarked: “I think the sprint format was a step forward; it felt more straightforward.”
“Yet, let’s not overextend it, considering we’re already facing a schedule of 24 races annually, along with six sprint events.”
“I understand it boosts viewership, but it also places a strain on the mechanics and everyone involved to ensure everything runs smoothly each time.
“While we need to manage it, we shouldn’t assume we need 12 of these events because it takes a toll on everyone as well.”
Norris echoed this sentiment, stating: “I generally prefer the traditional race format.”
“It’s what I grew up watching and loved the most. I enjoy diving straight into the pressure. The one practice session followed by qualifying creates a different intensity.”
“It limits teams’ opportunities to perfect their cars, leading to more competitive results, which I believe is beneficial in that regard.”
“However, the main issue concerns the pressure on mechanics and engineers.
“For us drivers, I don’t feel the burden is excessive. It’s the hundreds of mechanics and engineers who have to travel extensively that face significant challenges. This isn’t sustainable.”
