Mechanics overworked and sick: FIA response / Formula 1

The glamor world of Formula 1 is mainly about one thing: hard work. And the workload keeps on increasing with more races every year. Formula 1 stars like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso answered relevant questions: “We drivers come to race and drive. Of course the work goes on. But the mechanics feel it even more.”

We are into 22 races, Formula 1 manager Stefano Domenicali wants to expand to 25 world championship races in the medium term, the Italian does not rule out 30 races in the long term. Then we’d be in NASCAR territory, and many racing teams didn’t know what else to do—one team of mechanics runs a race, followed by the weekend with an entirely different team in action, and a week later. First one again. Only: Hire more people who can’t be reconciled with the budget cap in Formula 1.

For mechanics, that means more races: many of them end up mentally exhausted in the second half of the season and suffering from exhaustion. Working long hours is one thing, traveling with significant time changes is another. This year we went from Monaco to Baku in the east, then west to Canada and from there back to Europe, Silverstone. The end of the season is also tough: two races in the Far East (Singapore and Suzuka), then three rounds in North and South America (Texas, Mexico, Brazil), then the World Championship finals in the Middle East. Change in climate also reduces your strength.

Professionals are also burdened with being away from their families for a very long time of two or three castes continuously. It is not good for mental hygiene. The result: reach for the bottle or medicine.

In racing teams: Many newcomers, mechanics no longer do their jobs on the track for twenty, thirty years or more, they either move to the factory or leave Formula 1.

Sebastian Vettel: “Our goal should be to find a more sustainable way of running our weather, not only for our environment, but also in terms of human resources.”

The FIA, the World Autosport Association, has reacted – in the form of a change to the curfew, which is being extended. Today’s curfew (13 hours before the third training session) will be extended to 14 (in 2023) and then to 15 hours (2024). Teams are allowed to overrun, but not as often: for example, on Wednesday nights, teams are allowed eight no-punishment overruns this year, up to four times (2023) and then twice (2024). decreases. Instead of six exceptions on Thursday evening, there will be only three exceptions (2023) and then two more (2024). There are two exceptions on Friday evenings.

In addition, Stefano Domenicali declared that the races should be distributed more intelligently: Europe, Azerbaijan, Canada, Europe – which sucks. A race like Miami in May alone between Imola and Barcelona should no longer exist. It is planned that World Cup races will be bundled regionally.