George Russell concerned about F1 personnel health amid gruelling schedule

Numerous F1 team members suffered from illnesses during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Russell believes it's evidence of the "unsustainability" of the 2024 calendar. 

The recently concluded 2023 season, featuring the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix immediately following the Middle East finale, subjected individuals to a grueling 12-hour time difference in just three days, leading to an outbreak of sickness at Yas Marina.

With the 24-round schedule for 2024 already announced, including China's reinstatement, Russell emphasised the need for a reprieve at the end of what will be the longest season in championship history. 

The Brit cited fatigue and illnesses at the conclusion of the current 22-race term as proof that such a rigorous calendar is unfeasible for team personnel, advocating for the imposition of limits to safeguard their well-being.

"The drivers, we have it best from every single person in this paddock," he said. "The way we travel, we're in a very fortunate position.

"But everybody up and down the paddock, I've got so many mechanics who are ill, people in the engineers' office, just really struggling with the constant time zone shifts, the body not knowing where you are, eating at different times, staying in different hotels, different environments, different climates.

"The body's getting confused. There are talks for next year about personnel being regulated so that they can't do every single race. I think that would be a good thing.

"I don't think it's sustainable for 4,000 people to do 24 races a season, especially when you see how geographically it still doesn't make a huge amount of sense."

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