Going from Baku to Montreal is “crazy” for Mick Schumacher

8 kilometers. This is the distance that the F1 in the space of just a few days (or even hours), to reach Baku (Azerbaijan) to Montreal (Canada). For what will remain as the last “big” trip, before returning to Europe. A long and above all grueling journey for the teams, imposed by an already very busy schedule.

“A difficult journey”

Although overloaded with 22 races to fit in the space of just 36 weeks, the 2022 F1 calendar sometimes seems like a huge catch-all. After a trip to the Middle East for the first double-header of the year (Bahrain then Saudi Arabia), most of the drivers and teams returned to Europe. Before leaving again a week later, this time towards Australia, for a journey often lasting more than twenty-four hours.

Already pointed out at the time, the calendar once again takes a convoluted turn, with barely a few days to cross the world, from Azerbaijan to Canada. By wanting to monopolize all the markets and circuits in the four corners of the world, F1 risks losing its teams, sometimes forced to play tourist agencies to get by.

“For everyone, not just us pilots, it's a difficult journey, finds Mick Schumacher, barely arrived in Montreal. We go from one continent to another in a matter of days, which is crazy that it's like that, but it is what it is and everyone has to deal with it. »

Fortunately, this tense and constant flow imposed by the calendar since the start of the year should calm its enthusiasm for a few months, with nearly seven races organized in Europe between July and September. Certainly, the pace is likely to be just as sustained – despite the summer break from August 1 to 21 – but the distances to be covered will be much shorter. Logistical problems too.

“I'm sure once everyone gets back to Europe it will be a little less stressful getting the cars ready, packing up to leave a circuit and trying to get to the next race, confides Schumacher, still looking for his first points in F1. The pace is faster when we arrive in Europe, but it's still a huge amount of stress, although less than going from Azerbaijan to Canada. »

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Same story for his teammate at Haas, Kevin Magnussen. He who still belongs to the previous generation, where calendars and races were less of a headache to organize over a season: “It’ll be nice to have some European racing now, after Canada. No jet lag and short flights, I can’t wait for it to happen! »

At the heart of a season already complex with the discovery, understanding and development of new single-seaters, the appearance of a budgetary ceiling to be respected for each of the teams and the surge in prices linked to the war in Ukraine, the calendar has managed to carve out a place for itself, and continues to make people talk.