In the wake of a grueling Las Vegas Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner calls for a revised, less brutal schedule to benefit the teams and staff. The inaugural event’s timing led to exhaustion among the F1 community, with calls for change echoing from several team principals.
Between the lines:
– The Las Vegas GP’s schedule was so intense it left teams “slightly f***ed,” according to Christian Horner.
– A catastrophic opening day and late-night sessions highlighted the need for a timetable tweak.
– Next year’s calendar positions Las Vegas at the start of a demanding triple-header.
– Team principals across the paddock agree on the necessity for schedule adjustments.
– The balance between global audience needs and team welfare is a complex challenge.
Go deeper:
The Las Vegas Grand Prix marked F1’s high-stakes return to the glitz and glamour of Sin City after a forty-year hiatus. However, the spectacle was marred by a punishing schedule that pushed teams to their limits. Christian Horner’s vivid description of the aftermath speaks volumes about the physical toll on the F1 paddock.
The event’s timing was particularly punishing due to a combination of late-night sessions and a significant time zone change. This led to team members staggering back to their hotels with the morning sun already high, a routine that was repeated throughout the weekend. The relentless pace didn’t let up until the teams packed up for Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Sunday.
Looking ahead, the F1 calendar isn’t showing any mercy, with Las Vegas set to kick off a triple-header next year. The prospect of enduring such a relentless schedule again has prompted calls for change from several team principals, including Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur and Aston Martin’s Mike Krack. They stress the importance of finding a balance that considers the global audience and the well-being of the teams.
AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer, with his background at the FIA, supports the push for a revised schedule. His experience with the logistical challenges of street races adds weight to the argument for change. While some team members adapted to the Vegas rhythm, others struggled, highlighting the varying impacts of such a demanding schedule.
In conclusion, the Las Vegas GP was a spectacle that came with a high cost to those who make the race possible. The calls for a more humane schedule are loud and clear, and it’s a bet that F1 will have to consider seriously to ensure the future success of the event and the well-being of its workforce. Keep your engines revved for updates as F1 navigates this scheduling speed bump.
