Chase Carey has insisted there isn’t any “magic quantity” most of races for a Components 1 season – however that 23 represents a “full calendar”.
F1 has drawn up a provisional schedule of 23 races for the 2021 marketing campaign, which is yet another than had been initially deliberate for this 12 months earlier than the worldwide well being pandemic wreaked havoc and triggered a drastic rejig.
If 23 grands prix happen subsequent season, that may be a report – though solely 22 have thus far been rostered with one ‘TBC’ date at present clean for the final weekend in April after a primary ever Vietnamese race was scrapped.
There stays the potential for the calendar to be increased yet further, with a provision for 25 races having been included within the subsequent version of the Concorde Settlement which comes into impact subsequent 12 months.
However Carey, who will quickly depart his position as F1 CEO to get replaced by Stefano Domenicali, says there aren’t any agency plans relating to a definitive variety of races sooner or later – and that the pandemic stays a significant consideration on the subject of scheduling.
“I don’t suppose there’s a magic quantity. I believe capability for races is clearly restricted,” the 66-year-old Irish-born govt informed Channel 4.
“I don’t know that you simply’d say there’s a magic quantity that you simply don’t go previous, however we advocate 23 is a full calendar.
“We felt it was the fitting factor to have in place subsequent 12 months. We anticipate to have these 23 occasions subsequent 12 months and with followers. Actually, each one of many promoters on that calendar expects to do the identical.
“However we recognise we nonetheless have a interval of uncertainty in entrance of us. The world is shifting to a spot the place we now have to determine transfer ahead with this virus, not shut down due to it.
“That stated, we’ve all nonetheless obtained to navigate by it, so we be ok with it however we all know we now have a interval of uncertainty in entrance of us.”
Whereas 23 races, not to mention 25, would place an enormous burden on all personnel concerned in F1, a technique talked about of easing that’s extra two-day weekends comparable to at Imola this season.
On that concept, Carey added: “I believe we’ll focus on it additional. We had a Components 1 Fee assembly a few weeks in the past which was after the two-day occasion.
“It’s a matter. We’ll modify subsequent 12 months a little bit bit the format of our Friday racing to most likely make it a little bit extra manageable for the groups.
“We must always at all times be methods finally to placed on the perfect occasion attainable however an occasion that works for everyone.
“Works for followers firstly – that’s why we race – but additionally works for the groups.”
Observe us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!
