Mercedes driver George Russell urges FIA and F1 to introduce key rule for 2024

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Mercedes driver George Russell has now urged the FIA and Formula 1 to introduce a key new rule for the 2024 season which limits the number of races personnel attend.

The 25-year-old believes it is not sustainable for Formula 1 to expect thousands of people to work 24 races over just 40 weeks next year. F1 scheduled the 2023 calendar with 22 races in 38 weeks. But it grows for 2024 with the returns of the Chinese GP and Emilia Romagna GP.

F1 has changed the calendar slightly for 2024 with certain races grouped nearer together for geographical reasons. The Japanese GP, for example, moves from September to April. The Qatar GP, rather than the Las Vegas GP, also now heads into the Abu Dhabi GP in December.

Mercedes driver Russell was ‘coughing every lap’ of the Abu Dhabi GP

Formula 1 teams faced a frustrating schedule this year with the first Las Vegas GP one week before the Abu Dhabi GP. It meant the 10 teams had to pack up quickly following the flag in Sin City to get themselves and their equipment flown over to the Yas Marina Circuit in time.

Additionally, the events meant Russell, Mercedes and their F1 rivals had to deal with the 12-hour time zone change. While having five races in six weeks to end the year helped to cause sicknesses across the paddock, with Russell ‘coughing every single lap’ of the Abu Dhabi GP.

Russell urges F1 and the FIA to regulate the number of races attended

Russell now notes that discussions are underway over regulating the number of races team personnel attend in 2024. The Mercedes driver further believes it is hugely important for F1 and the FIA to introduce the rule given the ever-growing calendar and the associated issues.

“I think there are talks for next year about [team] personnel being regulated that they can’t do every single race,” Russell said, via quotes by RaceFans.

“That would be a good thing. I don’t think it’s sustainable for 4,000 people, I think, to do 24 races a season, especially when you see how geographically [spread out the races can be]. It still doesn’t make a huge amount of sense.”

Russell adds that many Mercedes team personnel were also feeling unwell in Abu Dhabi like himself. He further cites the ‘constant’ changes in time zones as one of the main reasons for some staff to fall ill. So, F1 and the FIA regulating the number of races should ease the issue.

“We have it best from every single person in this paddock, the way we travel,” he continued. “We’re in a very fortunate position.

“But everybody, up and down the paddock – I’ve got so many mechanics who are ill, people in the engineers’ office just really struggling with the constant time zone 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.”