The FIA and Liberty Medium are often in divergent positions in several areas, with the first focused on sports management and logistics, and the second more oriented towards commercial aspects. Among the issues that are taking centre stage in the debate on the evolution of Formula 1, one of the most discussed is the growing number of Grand Prix in the calendar. This year the number of races has reached the record of 24 events, but Liberty Media's intention is to reach 25. However, the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said he was against this further increase in the number of races on the calendar, underlining the logistical and management difficulties that would result.
An increasingly crowded calendar
The current Formula 1 calendar is already the most crowded in history, with 24 Grands Prix spread across the world. Every year, more and more countries express their desire to host a GP, making the idea of further expanding the number of races attractive to Liberty Media. However, this expansion would require a huge organizational effort. According to Ben Sulayem, going beyond the 24 races on the calendar would be complex for the teams and for the FIA itself.
In an interview with Motorsport, Ben Sulayem explained how the current limit of 24 races is already a difficult target to manage: “Getting past 24 events would require reorganising the teams. It would be necessary to have two sub-teams of mechanics and operational staff, as one team alone would not be able to cover such a busy calendar.” The FIA President stressed that a rotational approach would also be necessary for the Federation, with two operational teams to manage each race.
In addition to the logistical difficulties, Ben Sulayem has expressed concerns about the impact a too busy calendar could have on drivers and staff: “The physical and mental well-being of all is a fundamental issue. Would the drivers and teams be able to cope with a calendar with more than 24 races? That's a question we should put directly to them." The risk of physical and mental overload is in fact real, and could require a radical rethink in the management of personnel and competitions.
FIA and Liberty Media: a complex balance
Despite his doubts, Ben Sulayem acknowledged that the final decision on increasing the number of races rests with Formula One Management (FOM), the organisation that manages the commercial rights of Formula 1: “I will not prevent anyone from reaching 25 races. It is the right of the F1 management to move in that direction.” However, the FIA President made it clear that the Federation cannot support a larger calendar with its current resources.
For 2025, the calendar already includes 24 races, with the return of the Australian Grand Prix as the season opener.. Despite the difficulties, Liberty Media seems oriented towards expansion, but the real challenge will be to find a balance between the commercial and sporting aspects, without compromising the well-being of drivers and workers.
