THE 2023 Formula 1 calendar has 23 races on an ever-expanding roster.
Three visits to the US illustrate the State-side growth in the popularity of the sport, with a multitude of venues looking for a spot as part of the world’s most prestigious racing series.
In fact, 2023 was meant to feature a record-breaking 24 races, but China has been dropped from the calendar. The gap will likely be filled by Portimao or Mugello, with Malaysia’s Sepang circuit having an outside chance to slot into the gap, between Australia and Azerbaijan, the point being that F1’s current appeal places it in a prime position to cherry pick as it desires.
The reason for the upswing in F1’s popularity is the amount of entertainment it has produced, especially over the last few seasons. With Ferrari in the mix, and Mercedes likely to join in on the championship battle, the entertainment promises to reach even more intense and dramatic levels.
F1 has announced a total of six sprint races this season, and a Saturday Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
The sprint races have been, for the most part, entertaining with an enticing level of jeopardy promised. The biggest drawcard will always be the competition, and a sustained, season-long, battle for the top prize.
The question is how many races are too many?
There were seasons in the mid-2000s that were only 16 races, and completed by October. These days the season runs until December and rumour has it that 25 races a year may soon be a reality.
As such, F1’s expansive calendar also brings with it the risk of over-saturation. The question is where is that point? There likely isn’t a number of races that are too many – or too few. Rather, it is a case of how well F1 can sustain the entertainment. This ultimate negates the discussion of a season that is too congested, at least for the fans. Logistically and financially the teams have their own legitimate concerns.
It’s the same argument that raged after the introduction of the hybrid power unit.
The loss of the iconic engine sound, synonymous with F1, had many fans bemoaning the absence of the screaming V8 and V10. As soon as the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton hit boiling point this ‘gripe’ became non-existent.
The discussion around the number of races will also be cast aside, as long as the title battle is competitive and filled with suspense.
