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The calendar for the 2023 F1 season consisted of an astonishing 23 races. Although only 22 races were run due to a flood situation at Emilia Romagna GP, drivers, and the crew saw the effect of such an excruciating calendar. Additionally, the 2024 calendar will consist of a whopping 24 races throughout the year with additional triple headers. Hence, the former driver Mika Hakkinen has raised concerns over this long calendar.
The 55-year-old recalled the number of races during his racing times. Hakkinen asserted that he had a maximum of 17 races and insisted that the crew and driver’s faces depicted how difficult the season was at times due to 22 races. The major problem was not 22 races, but the extended amounts of traveling from one destination to another that further tired the drivers.
Compared to my years in F1 – I think we had a maximum of 17 races – [there were] 22 races. I attended some of them [and] you could see in people’s faces how tough the end of the season was. Ultimately, 22 races as a number is not that high. The problem is constantly having back-to-back races. The transitions from A to B are hard. Hakkinen told Unibet International on Youtube.
Hakkinen further pointed out how the inclusion of more races in the future calendar would be a very tough task for the drivers and the crew. However, the Finnish did not fail to acknowledge that F1 was doing its job of delivering fans’ needs and doing its job.
Going forward, there are even more races. It’s going to be a tough task. Very tough. Maybe the world calls for it. The fans call for it. They want more races. More racing. The task of F1 is to deliver and fill the calendar.Mika Hakkinen pondered over the biggest challenge of a 24-race calendar
Mika Hakkinen highlighted that for drivers and the team to participate in such an excruciating calendar required a lot of racing attitude and focus. This was the biggest challenge and proved the team’s mettle on the grid. The organization would have to stay on its feet in order to put forth a successful show in 2024.
Additionally, Hakkinen claimed that if he were to race on such a difficult calendar, he would have had stern negotiations with the team and the racing body about the compensation for partaking in the races. Mistakes should not be made when dealing with such an intense sport, according to the 55-year-old.
The organizers have locked the calendar for 2024 and are unlikely to make any last-minute changes. They’ve also shifted the calendar slightly to reduce traveling and potentially ease the season. However, drivers would see the effect of the 24 races towards the end of the season.
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