George Russell believes "good conversations" have been held with Formula 1 with regards to making the calendar "a bit more sustainable." 2023 was originally set to feature 24 Grands Prix, a record before the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix reduced it to 23. However, with six sprint races also set to feature and long back-to-back races such as the final two of the season in Las Vegas on November 18th and Abu Dhabi on November 26th, Russell believes changes could be afoot.
Russell wants sustainable calendar
"With the team I've got around me, we're really on it with human performance," Russell explained to media including RacingNews365.com. "It's something we're trying to implement a bit more into the group around us because these timezone shifts are so brutal for some of the races, and just the length of flights. "It doesn't matter how you fly, it really takes it out of you. "It is definitely getting to a point where people are feeling the effects. "I think we've had some good conversations with Formula 1 about where the future is and perhaps making things a bit more sustainable, for not just flying but all of us on this roller coaster together. "But ultimately you're so energised and motivated from going out there and driving, sometimes even if you didn't have the best night's sleep, once you're in the car, you're on your game."
GPDA changes
Russell, who serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, also gave an update about the process for replacing Sebastian Vettel. Fellow director Vettel retired from racing at the end of 2022, thus opening a vacancy, with Russell expecting talks soon. "Discussions in place of how we're going to go about things since Sebastian's retirement we'll probably have with the rest of the drivers in Bahrain," he explained.
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