Alpine Chief Calls For Huge Permanent Change To F1 Calendar: "Way Forward"

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer is calling for change.

Alpine team chief Otmar Szafnauer has called for the FIA to make the April break a permanent feature of the F1 calendar. 

The teams and drivers' currently have a three-week wait until the next grand prix race weekend due to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix. The record-breaking season was set to comprise of 24 races, which raised concerns within the teams with many arguing that 23 was even too many. 

Now, Szafnauer is calling for the unplanned April break to become permanent on the calendar. He explained:

“I think this break, although not planned, in a calendar that has 23 races and a lot of back-to-backs and triple-headers, it’s nice to have a three-week break now, a three-week break in August and then a break at Christmas.

“Maybe, if it is just by luck that we gain the knowledge that it is good to do it this way, maybe it should be by design in the future."

Szafnauer acknowledged that there has only been three races of the season so far, however, the teams have worked throughout the winter so have not had a break. He continued:

“I know the season has just started, but it’s not just about the start of the season, a lot of people have worked hard over the winter preparing the car for testing and then the races.

“Now, to have a bit of a break, it just helps you with what is coming up and then, in August, you have another break. It might be a way forward.”