As the chequered flag falls on the record-breaking 22-race season in 2023, Formula 1’s grueling schedule is under scrutiny. With an even bigger season lined up for 2024, including the return of the Chinese Grand Prix, teams are already feeling the strain. Max Verstappen recently took a swipe at the grueling F1 schedule ahead of the 2023 season finale in Abu Dhabi. His sentiments resonated with many, including the young George Russell. Not being one to shy away from expressing his views, the Mercedes driver proposed a creative solution to one of the sport’s most pressing problems.

The prospect of a 24-race season in 2024 looms large over the F1 paddock. It sets the stage for a calendar that stretches from late February to early December. As teams prepare for the demands of an extended season, the toll on personnel also becomes a focal point. The recently concluded five-race stretch in six weekends to wrap up 2023 serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by drivers and the behind-the-scenes heroes—team staff.

A call for change: George Russell rallies for F1’s fatigued workforce

Jet lag, constant time zone shifts, and the relentless travel itinerary have left the F1 community grappling with the effects of an intense schedule. Max Verstappen’s prior critique of the sport’s demanding workload prompted George Russell to voice the call for change. In a bold move, the 25-year-old threw his weight behind a proposal to regulate team personnel during the 2024 season. The idea seems to be a great middle-ground in the ever-demanding F1 schedule.

Russell, acknowledging the privileged position he and his fellow drivers hold, expressed concern for the well-being of the unsung heroes in the paddock. “I’ve got so many mechanics who are ill. People in the engineers’ office [are] just really struggling with the constant timezone shifts, the body not knowing where you are, eating at different times, staying in different hotels, different environments, different climates. The body’s getting confused,” Russell was quoted as saying by Express UK.

He believes limiting personnel to specific races would be a positive step in ensuring a sustainable and healthier working environment. “I think there are talks for next year about personnel being regulated so that they can’t do every single race. That would be a good thing. I don’t think it’s sustainable [for] 4,000 people to do 24 races a season. Especially when you see how geographically [diverse the calendar is]. It still doesn’t make a huge amount of sense,” Russell concluded.

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Beyond advocating for the welfare of team personnel, George Russell expressed optimism about Mercedes’ prospects and their ability to challenge Red Bull’s dominance in 2024.

George Russell remains confident that Mercedes will challenge Red Bull

Russell looks ahead at the 2024 season with confidence, predicting a brighter future for Mercedes. The Brackley-based team struggled to find footing in the era of ground-effect cars introduced in 2022. But it’s gearing up for a resurgence, according to the Brit. Russell also anticipates significant steps forward for Mercedes over the winter. He emphasized, saying, “There’s a lot of small things we’re changing with the car. I’ve seen it in the wind tunnel. We’ll be making some steps forward, no doubt.”

While acknowledging the formidable competition from Red Bull, who halted development months ago, Russell remains upbeat about Mercedes’ ability to close the gap. “Red Bull are so far ahead at the moment, and they stopped development months ago, so they’re going to make a huge step again. But I’m confident we’ll be in a better place come Bahrain than we were in the last two years,” Russell told Sky Sports.

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Russell’s push to confront F1’s ‘nonsensical’ problem opens the door to a broader conversation about sustainability and the human aspect of the sport. Meanwhile, his optimism about Mercedes’ resurgence adds a dose of excitement to the narrative of the upcoming season. Share your thoughts on the matter in the comments below.