FIA not in favour of adding more races to the calendar
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem insisted that the governing body is not in favour of adding more races to the current 24-race F1 calendar because of concerns for drivers and teams.
The current season is set to become Formula One's longest ever schedule, with drivers and teams completing 24 races from March to December. Formula has already released the calendar of the 2025 season which will also incorporate the same number of round.
While several new locations are believed to be interested to join Formula One, it does not look possible that the schedule expands even further. FIA's President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has also stated that the governing body does not support to add more races to the current schedule due to logistical challenges and concerns for drivers and teams.
Speaking of the challenges of an even bigger calendar, Ben Sulayem noted: “You cross a barrier where you need two teams, we can’t have [more].
“Logistically, then I have to have two teams. Can the drivers take it? I just want to know. Let’s just be sensible and logical about it. Can the drivers take it physically and mentally? This is a question I will ask the drivers. And what about the teams?”
“As for the FIA, we cannot do it with this one team. We have to have a rotation of two teams when it comes to the staff on the ground.”
While Liberty Media has the final say in defining the calendar and making deals with the promoters, Ben Sulayem has revealed that the Commercial Rights' Holder is also aware of the danger that more races would pose.
“They never came back and said: ‘Oh, we need more.’ No way they did. What they are after is quality and that’s why we have this good relationship with them.”
“I mean, I will not stop [them] to go to 25, because it is their right, OK? [In the end] it’s up to them. But they are the ones who don’t want to add [more races at the moment]. Because they know that it becomes [a matter] of fatigue then," Sulayem is quoted as saying by motorsport.com.
