“Asian triple-header will take a toll on people”- Mercedes team principal shows concern over hectic 2021 calendar with multiple double/triple headers.
Formula 1 is set to step into the new season, but much of concern is shown against the calendar with a lengthy nature, as the provisional schedule has declared 23 races this season.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has commented that amidst the hefty schedule given, multiple consecutive in different continents other than Europe would be tiring.
“I think the teams are the beneficiaries of growing revenue and income. In that respect, we all need to support the business to grow,” he told Motorsport.com.
“On the other side, a couple of triple-headers will take a toll on the people. I think there is an Asian triple-header that will mean we are more than three weeks away from home and that is certainly not something that is great.”
Mercedes, like many other teams, have confirmed already, will look to rotate their staff around on race weekends next year to lessen the workload, even with the budget cap coming in.
“You must not forget that the hardest-working people are the ones that set up the garages and take them down and the mechanics that will have overnighters if something goes wrong,” Wolff continued.
“You need to question how long that is sustainable and whether you implement a different system by having a second crew that can take over these toughest roles and this is something we are looking at at the moment.”
Easier for drivers, hard for the crew
Speaking on the welfare of his staff, Wolff said earlier this year, for once, the driver can manage with the hectic schedule, but it will be exploitative for the crew working behind the wheels to run the show.
“I think for the drivers it’s probably a little bit easier because they can recover between the races,” Wolff told Racer.com back in August.
“Having said that, it’s not easy for anybody. But for the racing team, it’s particularly difficult because you can’t go home – you need to stay out, you’re not seeing your family for in excess of three weeks and that has happened two times in a row now.
“For once, the senior management and the engineers that we’re able to commute back home (at Silverstone), there wasn’t a single day when they didn’t work.
“I can tell you Monday morning we were all in the office and that three race weekends in a row, it takes its toll. I feel it in myself that you start to struggle.”
