Perez: Expanding calendar a threat to long F1 careers

Sergio Perez has suggested that Formula 1’s expanding calendarcould lead to shorter careers in Formula 1. Over the last severalyears the sport has been increasing the number of races stagedduring a campaign. This year was originally scheduled to feature 24events before the rounds in China and Imola were cancelled -however both are set to return next season. As a result, F1’scalendar next year is on pace to be the first 24-race schedule inhistory, a new record for the sport. The season will commence inBahrain at the start of March before concluding in Abu Dhabi inDecember, with three triple headers taking place during thecampaign. Perez has raised concerns with the schedule, highlightingthat F1 personnel are visibly exhausted at the end of the campaign.“Obviously, it's something that we're going to raise up to try andthen see what can be done,” Perez told media includingRacingNews365 . “Probably now it’s [too] late for next year, butfor the year after to really try to maximize it. “I never rememberseeing people so exhausted at the last race. So I think it'ssomething that we got to be taking it very seriously, “It’simportant for the sport, for the drivers to obviously keep havingthese long careers that we've seen. “For the staff from themechanics, we want them to have very long careers as well. So Ithink it's something we've got to consider.”