F1 CEO Confirms Race Number Goal As Calendar Reaches New Heights

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirms the ideal number of races per season.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed the ideal number of races per season would be 24, after word of up to thirty races per year. 

The 2024 calendar has not been confirmed yet, although it is expected that it will be a similar line-up to this year. 

The 2023 season was due to consist of 24 races. However, after the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix due to Covid-19 and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to severe flooding, there will now be 22 races. 

During an appearance on F1's Beyond The Grid podcast, Domenicali confirmed that, despite the speculation of increasing the number of races per season, 24 is the correct amount. He explained:

"What we want to do next year is 24 and I think 24 is the right number.

"It’s the number that is required within the market. I would say it’s the right balance between that, the complexity of the logistics and of the people that are working.

"I would say this is the number which we should target to be stable for a long time."

As the sport is growing rapidly, the interest from tracks to host a grand prix is also increasing. Domenicali went on to confirm that Madrid does want to host a race, but no decision has been made on that yet. 

He continued:

"It is true that Madrid wants to host a race in the future, no decision has been taken so far.

"That's another great sign of the state of the health of Formula 1. Commercial and technical discussion will be taking place in the next couple of months.

"For the best of Formula 1, we will take the right decision, but we need to remember that we still have a contract with Barcelona.

"We are really very, very happy in the way that Barcelona is handling the future because of course, this will help them to react, to push for the improvement that is needed at all levels.