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Russell: F1 illnesses highlight ‘unsustainable’ toll of 2024 calendar
The 2023 season concluded with the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the finale in the Middle East, resulting in a 12-hour time difference in just three days, leading to sickness among drivers, team personnel, and championship staff at Yas Marina.
Despite the release of a 24-round schedule for next year, there is pressure for Vegas to break away from the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races to provide some respite at the end of the longest season in championship history.
George Russell believes that the fatigue and illnesses at the end of the current 22-race season show that committing to a full calendar next year is unsustainable for team personnel, and limits should be imposed.
He mentioned the constant time zone shifts, different environments, and climates that impact the body and the strain it places on personnel. Talks are underway to regulate personnel participation in every race next year.
He also recounted his own struggles during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, battling a severe cough that affected his performance on track, and emphasized the need for respite for all team members.
