How Formula 1 drivers experienced the transfer from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi and why they are against triple headers at the end of the racing season
Formula 1 drivers criticize the racing series for its calendar planning after traveling from Las Vegas in North America to Abu Dhabi in the Middle East for the final race weekend of the 2023 season. Tenor: Especially at the end of a long year, this is no longer necessary
Mercedes driver George Russell, for example, finds such a big transfer “pretty tough”. The insanity of this calendar planning was brought home to him when his flight to Dallas was diverted. “Pierre [Gasly] and I were traveling together. And so we found ourselves in a 24-hour snack bar at three o’clock in the morning having breakfast!”
Gasly and Russell were not the only Formula 1 protagonists who had difficulties readjusting their internal clocks after Las Vegas. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, for example, had “the impression that time passes very quickly” because the time difference “practically costs a day”.
“You think you were in Las Vegas 24 hours ago, but that was four days ago. It takes some getting used to, but I’m fine,” says Piastri. “I’ve arrived in the time zone well. But you have to watch your energy levels during back-to-back races. “
Formula 1 becomes a night series in Las Vegas
All of this is exacerbated by the special schedule to which Formula 1 in Las Vegas was subjected: the Grand Prix was planned as a night race, meaning that the individual sessions took place late in the evening and at night. As a result, the drivers and their teams hardly got to see the sun for days on end.
“The lack of sunlight in Las Vegas kept everyone pretty busy,” says Russell. “It felt like we were constantly on night shift. Because after getting up at three in the afternoon, it was only a good two hours until sunset. That was the biggest challenge, albeit a pretty unique experience.”
Now the weekend in Abu Dhabi will show whether everyone has recovered from the exertions. “But I’m sure: we’re all feeling much better than last week,” says Russell.
Drivers are coping, but the teams are not
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc can only speak for himself here and says the 16-hour journey to Abu Dhabi really wore him down: “Normally I don’t have a problem with jet lag, but this time it was different. I was so tired on arrival that I slept like a baby the first night. I’ve felt good ever since. “
He noticed in the paddock at Yas Marina Circuit, however, that “the mechanics and engineers in particular [are] really tired and struggling,” said Leclerc. “And that will be even worse next year [at the end of the season] because there will be three races in a row. So after that, we have to think about how we want to organize the last phase of the season. “
Triple headers yes, but not across continents
“My opinion exactly,” says Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen. He is also bothered by the idea of having to travel to Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi every week at the end of the 2024 season.
“A triple-header in the Middle East is fine. It’s the flight time from the other side of the world. It’s probably a bit too intense in 2023,” says Verstappen.
He doesn’t know exactly “what time zone you’re in”. After all, the activities in Abu Dhabi are planned for the evening hours. “This schedule suits us,” he explains. “That way you get a good night’s sleep. “
Verstappen questions sustainability
However, the Formula 1 itinerary is not direct, but “strange”, emphasizes Verstappen: “We travel here from the other side of the world and then talk about sustainability. It’s probably not very sustainable in terms of emissions and the human body. We can cope with it, but it’s not great. And we need to discuss this with Formula 1.”
As the 2024 Formula 1 calendar has already been finalized, Verstappen and his fellow drivers hope to be able to bring about meaningful changes for 2025 and beyond. Specifically: “A more normal end to the season.” That’s how Verstappen puts it. “The calendar can certainly be better organized. That will happen at the start of the season next year, and that will help. “