Team chief calls for BAN as Verstappen makes confession after……read more
A senior figure at Red Bull, Helmut Marko, has sparked a debate over the future of Formula 1’s race calendar, suggesting that some tracks may need to be banned due to the increasing demands of the sport. Marko, a key advisor to the Red Bull team, has been closely involved in the team’s success since its inception in 2005, having overseen multiple drivers’ and constructors’ championships. His comments come in the context of a growing concern regarding the length of the Formula 1 calendar, which continues to expand each season.
Formula 1 has seen tremendous growth, particularly since Liberty Media took control of the sport in 2017. The 2024 season will feature a record-breaking 24 races across 21 countries, making it the longest season in the sport’s history. While this expansion has contributed to the global popularity of F1, it has also raised questions about the sustainability of such a packed schedule. Marko, who has been at the heart of Red Bull’s success, including Max Verstappen’s dominance in recent years, believes that the current number of races is becoming unmanageable for both teams and drivers.
In a recent interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF, Marko shared his concerns about the F1 calendar’s increasing demands, particularly for team personnel. He acknowledged that the sport’s growing reach has brought new races to the calendar, including some in locations that may not have a deep-rooted motorsport culture. While these new events may generate excitement and spectacle, Marko feels they lack the tradition and legacy of some of the sport’s classic venues.
Marko pointed to iconic European circuits like Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Monza in Italy as examples of races that are steeped in history and offer a cultural richness that newer tracks may lack. These venues, he believes, contribute to the essence of Formula 1 and should be prioritized in future seasons. However, he also suggested that with the number of races continuing to grow, it may become necessary to eliminate certain Grand Prix events from the calendar in order to maintain a balance between tradition and innovation.
The idea of banning certain tracks was not the only solution Marko proposed. He also suggested that F1 could look at the possibility of working with two separate driver line-ups for certain races, allowing teams to manage the increased workload without overburdening their staff. This suggestion reflects the pressures that the current calendar places on teams, as the logistics of traveling to different countries every weekend for nearly half the year is no small feat.
Marko’s comments also touched on the importance of maintaining a balanced and manageable calendar that allows teams and drivers to perform at their best without being overwhelmed by the sheer number of races. He has already made it clear that he will be missing a few races in 2024 due to the intense demands of the schedule, though he will continue to play an active role in overseeing Red Bull’s performance.
As Formula 1 continues to grow in popularity and its calendar expands, Marko’s remarks highlight an ongoing challenge for the sport: how to balance its global appeal with the sustainability of the calendar. With F1’s future success heavily tied to maintaining both the spectacle and the tradition of the sport, Marko’s call to reassess the current approach to race scheduling is likely to spark further debate among teams, drivers, and fans alike.
