Hamilton and Alonso threaten Liberty Media with F1 exit over possible calendar change
- Published on 10 Jun 2017 11:11
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- By: Fergal Walsh
After Chase Carey admitted that he would like to extend the length of the current Formula 1 calendar to 25 races per season, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have both threatened F1’s new owners with retirement in the event of such a change.
Currently, the Formula 1 calendar stands at 20 races in 2017, with 2016’s 21 race long calendar being the longest season to date. In 2018, the calendar is once again set to be extended to 21 races following the return of the German Grand Prix - a race that was scheduled for 2017 but was removed following a meeting held in Vienna by the World Motorsport Council in December.
This idea comes as part of Liberty Media’s aims to make Formula 1 more appealing, with F1’s new owners already lifting media regulations on teams which allow for more social media engagement with fans as well as considering to scrap F1’s concorde agreement.
Although 25 races on the F1 calendar would raise the image of Formula 1 in the public eye, the demands from teams and drivers will also be increased, which will put a higher strain on competitors and increase the cost of competing due to greater travel and greater logistical challenges.
This change is something that both Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso have opposed, with Hamilton agreeing with Alonso when the Spaniard said that a longer Formula 1 season would not be for him.
Chris Soulsby
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Replies (16)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
To outright threaten to leave a sport you supposedly love because there'll be more races than you want is a bit meh. Mind, I also think 25 races is too much, 23 is the absolute limit IMO. But I wont exactly stop watching F1 if there is more than 23 races.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Maybe they don't love it so much. They've achieved world championships, younger drivers who don't have race wind are much more inclined to stay on, rather than guys who are in the latter stages of their careers
Chris Soulsby
Posts: 12
I think they're just reflecting the attitudes of other team personnel in Formula 1. 25 races won't stop me from watching F1 but with more races, drivers and team members alike lose free time and spend more time travelling and away from families. That's what a calendar extension threatens - a personal life.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It threatens both personal life and the economy of the teams, and since they need to make sure their parts last the entire season, they will have to be in constant preservation mode, thus damaging the entertainment of the sport to boot. But its probably more constructive to talk with the owners than throwing around threats.
Chris Soulsby
Posts: 12
Yeah, communication can improve the situation instead of threatening to quit. A threat to quit from two of the sport's biggest names sends a strong message to Liberty Media though and can serve as a big reminder that the competitors do have a life outside of Formula 1.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
F1FAN0101: That may be, but even then, I find it a bit 'meh' to threaten to quit because the conditions wouldnt be optimal for them anymore. I just dont think its healthy for F1.
Chris: I see your points, and I agree with them, though I dont think its healthy for the sport. I also have this opinion regarding Red Bull's exit threats: sure, its usually a good way to get your points across and a decent way to get your way with things, but I dont think its a healthy thing for F1, and it could damage RB's reputation in the sport.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
I won't really miss either. Alonso is a fantastic driver, but he is nearing the end of his run anyway. So I guess what I'm trying to say is: buh-bye
Chris Soulsby
Posts: 12
I don't think Alonso will be in Formula 1 next year anyway with the current situation at McLaren. I would imagine that he would go to IndyCar for the season.
StigsSon
Posts: 35
1 thinks he's the best driver, the other knows he is.
Would love to see the back of Hamilton, but Fernando is a keeper.
Chris Soulsby
Posts: 12
Up until his stint at McLaren, I think that Alonso's talent was kind of hidden. Although I don't want to see him in an uncompetitive car, some of Alonso's performances have been incredible and the McLaren has shown how good a driver he actually is, outperforming the limits of each car since 2015.
PeteTirtle
Posts: 16
Sports rules are sports rules, you either accept them or you don't. I can understand Alonso offering to hang up his F1 helmet in his current situation (who would want an extra 4 races in an uncompetitive car when you are a champion), but Hamilton? Surely just throwing his toys out of the pram because he would have less time for twerking!
Chris Soulsby
Posts: 12
Yeah, Alonso's situation is understandable but when a driver has a competitive car, it's difficult to imagine that a driver would threaten to pull out. Both Alonso and Hamilton are in their 30s there now, and when they both started driving there were only 16 or 17 races per season. An extension to 25 races in the space of a single career is a big growth, an if anything, it sends a message to Liberty Media, saying that the idea would be a bad one.
denis1304
Posts: 284
To have to work 100 days (25 race x 4 days) a year?
Who has ever seen something like that?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
There is more workdays for them than just 100 days of work. We also have the pre season and midseason practice sessions. In between the races and practice sessions, they have to practice in race sims, work out, meet press, attend to meetings held by the teams and various F1 related organisations, etc etc. So they likely have a more busy schedule then some might think.
denis1304
Posts: 284
but he gets 40+ millions a year
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yes, but to say they dont work for it is a bit of an exaggeration. Even with only 20 races, they work significantly more than 100 days a year. No, its not a "real" job, their contribution comes in the form of entertainment rather than anything more useful, but they do work for their cash nevertheless. Do they deserve those ridiculous sums? I dont think so, certainly not 40M.