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Perez says family is more important than an ever-expanding Formula 1 calendar.
Formula 1’s annual race calendar is at fast approaching a tipping point, at least for Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez.
The current F1 schedule for 2022 is at an unprecedented 23 races, with Formula 1 looking to potentially replace the canceled Russian Grand Prix with a second outing this year in Singapore. But for the future, even more than 23 races are in the cards.
“With 23 races you’ve already reached the saturation point,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said.
One solution is that F1 scratches a few of the classic European events including Paul Ricard in France and even the fabled Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Monaco Grand Prix.
“I’m a big fan of going to Miami and Las Vegas, but at the same time it would be a great loss not to have some classic European races anymore,” Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz said.
What’s clear for 32-year-old Perez is that the calendar must not go beyond its March-December calendar that is bursting the seams with 23 separate race dates.
“It’s great that Formula 1 continues to develop and grow,” Perez told The Athletic. “You can see it everywhere we go—people are starting to recognize you on the street more and more often. But if there are too many races, it will be bad. At least for me. Right now we are constantly immersed in work, because there are a lot of races. We simply don’t have enough time to spend time with our families.
“I personally have two children. I think if the calendar expands even more, I will definitely no longer compete in Formula 1,” Perez said.
