F1 needs “rotation of two teams” to support 25-race calendar

• Current Concorde Agreement has a limit of 25 races
• Mercedes boss Toto Wolff previously called for greater staff rotation in 2021

Formula One would “need two teams” to rotate throughout the season in order to support a 25-race calendar, according to International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The current Concorde Agreement has a limit of 25 races, but Formula One has only expanded as far as 24 races this season.

With multiple countries expressing an interest in hosting a race, the expectation is that Formula One will hit that limit sooner rather than later. However, FIA president Ben Sulayem has moved to confirm that the logistical strain would be too much on the teams.

“You cross a barrier where you need two teams, we can’t have [more]”, Ben Sulayem told Motorsport.com. “Logistically, then I have to have two teams. Can the drivers take it? I just want to know. Let’s just be sensible and logical about it. Can the drivers take it physically and mentally? This is a question I will ask the drivers. And what about the teams?

“As for the FIA, we cannot do it with this one team. We have to have a rotation of two teams, when it comes to the staff on the ground.”

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff previously called for greater staff rotation ahead of the unveiling of the 2022 calendar, which contained 23 races. Salaries, though, are included within the sport’s financial regulations, making it difficult to allow for rotational teams under the current rules.

Formula One will likely look to replace current events rather than expand the calendar, with some European races rumoured to become rotational rather than annual staples.

Ben Sulayem acknowledged: “They never came back and said: ‘Oh, we need more [races].’ No way they did. What they are after is quality and that’s why we have this good relationship with them.

“I mean, I will not stop [them] to go to 25, because it is their right, OK? [In the end] it’s up to them.

“But they are the ones who don’t want to add [more races at the moment]. Because they know that it becomes [a matter] of fatigue then. So they have their own reasons [for keeping the amount of races on 24].”