Las Vegas is expected to be F1’s biggest race of 2023 but drivers won’t be able to enjoy it to the fullest due to the packed calendar, says Williams’ Alex Albon. F1 will take over Vegas in November, but lights out is set for Sunday 19th at 6 a.m. UK time.
The race’s inclusion was set to push F1’s race calendar up to 24 before the Chinese Grand Prix’s exclusion due to Covid-19. “I’m excited [for Vegas],” Albon exclusively told the Daily Express Sport. “I think for us as drivers we don’t get to see that much. We’re kind of… hotel, circuit, and then airport. Vegas is not the last race of the season, unfortunately, so I don’t think we can celebrate it quite like the fans. But I’m sure that we can still take in the atmosphere.
“It’s another race in the US and it’s an important race for us as a team, being, you know, you could almost say half-American. But, yeah, I would say the atmosphere is going to be electric, we’re not going to be able to enjoy it as much as other people, but it’s going to be a cool race.”
Albon says F1’s current amount of races is manageable but says compromises to help ease the workload on teams and drivers are yet to be made. “I think at the current state it’s fine,” Albon added. “But at the minute there’s been no compromise about it. If we think about all the races we have been doing, the workload is still the same. The teams have to leave on a Wednesday more or less, sometimes a Tuesday.
“Work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and then be back in the office on a Monday and then start again on Tuesday. Even in terms of drivers, to begin with, on Thursdays, drivers getting more free time went away quite quickly. For example, this weekend we went from Singapore to Suzuka. And on paper, it’s not much of a difference in time zone but we’ve just gone from a night race to a day race.
“So, we’re moving nine or ten hours in terms of difference in the middle of a season and it takes a toll on everyone. As a team, we’re doing quite a good job; we’re on a rotation basis for most of the people who work here, which has helped. But still, it’s on the limit, let’s say that.”
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In the ideal world of Albon, who’s leading Williams’ charge to a top-seven constructors’ finish after securing 21 points, the solution to easing the workload would be for F1 to move to a two-day race weekend. Albon said: “I would love to see a two-day race weekend.
“Practice and qualifying on a Saturday and then a race on a Sunday. I don’t think that will ever happen as TV money is important.”
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