Thread: How frustrating is the F1 Schedule?

I suppose I could rework this question and ask, Do you like or dislike the length of the F1 season? Just as I get into the sport a little, they're off a week, or two, or three. It's frustrating. I'd rather they drove every week for two months then spread out 8 races over four months. That's pretty much what they do, and that's one of the reasons they lose me. How about you?

Originally Posted by RainbowWarrior

I suppose I could rework this question and ask, Do you like or dislike the length of the F1 season? Just as I get into the sport a little, they're off a week, or two, or three. It's frustrating. I'd rather they drove every week for two months then spread out 8 races over four months. That's pretty much what they do, and that's one of the reasons they lose me. How about you?

I don't have a problem with the schedule, for one thing, this is a worldwide serie with all the travel implications, some team members have probably not seen their families from the first race in Bahrain in the middle of March until the after the Chinese GP a month later, not to mention hauling all the cars and related equipment around the world, not only is it expensive but the logistics to go from Bahrain to Australia in little over a week, to get setup and then to Malaysia in a few days must be mind boggling, then they had to get to China and get everything ready for the race two weeks later.
Not that it will get a whole lot easier in Europe where instead of flying all the equipment around they will haul it long distances by trucks, however the crews will be able to spend a few days at home, between the races.
I watch all the races direct, which means races in the middle of the night in places like Australia, Malaysia and China, European races usually start around 07:00 on Sunday mornings, my alarm clock is always set and I don't miss any, unless something major prevents me and I try to make sure that my work schedule does not conflict with the races.

I do understand the travel restraints and perhaps that is the biggest reason for the gaps, but hey, NASCAR drivers are out there without going home for extended periods for months at a time. Sounds like F1 is a little wimpy. :}

Originally Posted by RainbowWarrior

I do understand the travel restraints and perhaps that is the biggest reason for the gaps, but hey, NASCAR drivers are out there without going home for extended periods for months at a time. Sounds like F1 is a little wimpy. :}

That's because NASCAR is strictly a US serie, based mainly in the southern USA, as a result, even if there is a race every week-end, most team members get to spend at least a day or two at home every week.
When you do a lot of traveling and spend most of your time on the road, in hotels and/or airports, in particular if you have a young family at home, it gets tedious pretty quickly, that's not wimpy.
I would be interested in learning which driver spends months at a time on the road in NASCAR without going home. Even if they can't get home for a couple of weeks, its much easier and less expensive for their families to join them at a venue, than the family members of F1 crews trekking around the world to join their loved ones.
Lets face it, this sport is not only about the star drivers and team owners, millionaires with their own private jets, its also about the lowly crew member paid not more (and sometime less) than the average working Joe, who can not afford the cost of travel for himself and family on a regular bases.
I'm sure most crew members are well taken care of, but the bottom line is being away from family for extended time can be very hard mentally and these people need to be at their best when at the track.

I basically agree but this is also a way of life they've chosen; there are many who like to take their place so it's hard to feel sorry for any of them.

Originally Posted by RainbowWarrior

I basically agree but this is also a way of life they've chosen; there are many who like to take their place so it's hard to feel sorry for any of them.

I guess we just have to accept that we are on different sides of the fence on this subject

really hard to watch those 3:30 start times!

oldcanuck, I applaud your statement and boy, do I appreciate it. I know so many people who don't know how to agree to disagree. In fact, I'm not really sure we're that far off the mark with our opinions, either.

I completely understand them doing this. They do have a lot of traveling to do and between that and the races I am sure they are exhausted! You could always watch Nascar in the off weeks!

I have no problems with the schedule, but living in the US is a real pain trying to watch it. It's only on early in the morning like 4 o'clock and I am much too lazy to wake up that early...I'll let the DVR do it for me