Stefano Domenicali has stated that 24 races is “the maximum” number that Formula 1 can handle in a single year as the calendar continues to expand.
The arrival of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023, while Qatar and China return, will mean a record-breaking calendar with 24 venues in 21 countries hosting a race across a nine-month period. That figure is a dramatic rise from even four or five years ago.
Interest is at an all-time high in terms of hosting a race with promoters lining up looking to strike a deal with F1, but the sport’s CEO has insisted they are at capacity.
“23 to 24 races is a good number, but I don’t want to discuss more,” he said, as reported by Motorsport-Magazin.com.
“The venues are chosen around this number. There are many factors that are taken into account, but the number of grands prix is clear. At 24, the maximum is reached.
“The market demands this number of races. We used to have 15 races, but that was a different situation. There’s a lot of interest now, and hopefully it’ll get even bigger in the future.”
The Concorde Agreement limits the number of races per season to 25 but with that set be renewed from the 2026 season onwards, those terms could be renegotiated.
But as much as the sport’s chiefs may be in favor of that, it is unlikely the team’s staff will. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has revealed he will not be in attendance for every race in 2023 while two-time World Champion Max Verstappen suggested his F1 career could be cut short if the calendar becomes even bigger.
There has also been complaints from an environmental point of view with races like Canada and Miami sandwiched in between European events. Domenicali said they were “trying to strike a balance.”
“One third of the races will take place in Europe, another third in America and the Middle East, and the last third in the Far East,” said the F1 boss.
“When creating the race calendar, the financial side is very important. There are many more offers than dates on the calendar.
“We take into account the beauty of the track itself, the investment, the activities for the fans, and the interest of the teams and manufacturers involved.”
The South African Grand Prix is among those looking to host a race in the future having not been on the calendar since 1993. Earlier this month, an alternative venue was suggested if a deal could not be reached for a return to Kyalami.
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