The 2022 Formula 1 calendar was released this week, the championship will have a record breaking 23 races spanning 18 countries (2 races in Italy and USA and Monaco) and will rack up a shed load of air and freight miles.
Interestingly the championship is scheduled to start at the end of March and finishing at the end of November. How has F1 scheduled a 23 race season and still managed to finish the season in November
Let’s break down what has been announced.
COVID effect!
Firstly, Covid still has it hold on the calendar, with the notable exclusion of the Chinese GP, the decision to exclude the Shanghai race has been due the strict restrictions in the region, also the Chinese GP has traditionally been held at the beginning of the season. At the time of the announcement, the Chinese GP would be only 6 months away. Formula 1 and the Chinese GP promoters clearly didn’t see things changing enough to allow the race to be held. Formula 1 noted in its press release for the new calendar that the Chinese GP …”will be restored to the calendar as soon as conditions allow”
As the Covid 19 pandemic continues, it is not out of the realms of possibility that changes to the calendar could happen in 2022, this seems a lot less likely with most countries beginning or continuing to control the virus, giving Formula 1 to plan for its record breaking season.
The Return(s)
The announcement has given us the return of races that have been absent for a while now, the decision to delay the return of the Chinese GP has given Formula 1 the opportunity to return to Imola for the Emilia Romagna GP, Imola was last held in 2006 until its return to the truncated 2020 season, it returned once again this season. 2022 will be the third race in a row since its “one-off” turn in 2020.
Other welcome returns the Australian and Canadian GP’s, both have missed the last 2 seasons due the the Covid-19 pandemic.
The return of the Australian GP will be watched with interest due to its recent track changes. The hope is that these changes will increase the racing and allow for a more entertaining race. The Australian GP has lost its usual season opener position on the calendar falling to third in the calendar after Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP’s.
The Canadian GP’s return will be celebrated by many F1 fans, the Gilles Villneuve circuit usually provides the Formula 1 fans with a pretty good race (just ask any Jenson Button fan).
The popular Japanese GP at Suzuka makes its return to the Calander, with the GP scheduled in for the start of October, as with both Australia and Canada, the Japanese GP fell victim to the Covid 19 pandemic.
New Track on the Block.
The long awaited Miami GP is finally happening in 2022, the Miami GP will be held on the 6th to the 8th May.
It will be interesting to see what the new race will bring, designed by Helmann Tilke designs, the track will use the grounds around American Football’s Miami Dolphin’s Hard Rock Stadium. The track will be 5.41km (3.36 miles) long with 19 corners and 3 straights. The addition of the Miami GP in a 10 year deal has been a long time coming with discussions and rumours floating about the F1 paddock for a number of years.
Contracts
The Calender has also noted that three tracks have still to negotiate contracts for the 2022 season, Imola, Spain and Singapore have still to agree contracts for the 2022 season.
This is not an unusual situation in Formula 1, contracts will have been discussed before the calender has been announced, however there have been some rumours that Singapore GP could be at risk if agreements can’t be reached, with Turkey’s Istanbul track ready to step in if need be.
It would be more surprising if theses contracts aren’t not agreed, it’s more a case “not if but when” for agreements to be reached with the promotors.
The Schedule
23 races in one season is a massive undertaking for so many people, not just for the drivers, but for all personnel up and down the paddock. Let’s not kid ourselves not everyone will be flying first class.
Everyone in Formula 1 will be effected to some degree by the sheer size of the season, drivers will have the constant battle and challenges of maintaining their craft and concentration throughout the year, however they will be allowed to some extent the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the F1 world. They have the opportunity to use personal jets to fly them to the next venue or to a PR event. They are well looked after in that regard. Rightly so.
As we look further down the pecking order as it were, we can see what a long and busy season could have on people.
Mechanics, Truck Drivers, PR people etc all have a role to play and to some extent they will be working harder and more likely be working longer hours. It’s a daunting task, even before the added pressure of being away from family and friends. Even with the now traditional summer break between the Hungarian GP on the 31st July to the Belgium GP on the 28th August the workload is extreme.
October laids bare the struggle that Formula 1 has, with 4 races being held over the course of the month, Formula 1 heads from Singapore to Japan to USA and then finishing the month off in Mexico, added to this is the Russian GP at Sochi is just a week before Singapore on the 25th September.
Formula 1 must surly be at the point where no more races can be added, the announcement of the 10 year contract with Qatar added to the 10 year deal with Miami, more and more countries are coming to Formula 1, they can’t race on them all.
Formula 1 has given us the potential of a record breaking season in 2022 let’s just hope that its only records that break, the gruelling schedule could “break” some people too, that is not an option.