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F1 Staff Face Gruelling 85-Day Schedule as 2026 Calendar Takes Its…

The glamorous image of Formula 1 is far removed from the reality faced by many of the people working behind the scenes.

Working in Formula 1 can appear to be a dream job, with employees travelling around the world and experiencing some of the biggest sporting events on the planet. However, the demanding 2026 calendar is highlighting just how exhausting life in the paddock can be.

 

With the season featuring as many as 24 Grands Prix, team personnel are facing an increasingly relentless schedule, with very little opportunity to return home or properly recover between races.

 

Former BBC Formula 1 presenter Jake Humphrey, who now hosts the High Performance Racing podcast, offered a striking insight into the situation after attending the recent Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

 

Humphrey revealed that a conversation with a team member left him particularly concerned about the workload facing F1 staff.

 

Team member reveals exhausting schedule

 

Humphrey explained that he congratulated a team employee ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, expecting the person to be excited about another major race weekend.

 

Instead, the response highlighted the sheer pressure of the current calendar.

 

The employee reportedly told Humphrey that there was little to look forward to between Monza and the end of the season because the addition of Malaysia had dramatically reduced the amount of time available for rest.

 

According to Humphrey, the team member said he and his colleagues would have just five days away from work during an 85-day period.

 

The revised schedule means there are now 11 races remaining between Monza and the season finale in Abu Dhabi in early December.

 

Triple-headers add to the pressure

 

Humphrey also explained how demanding the final stretch of the season has become.

 

The schedule moves from Monza to Madrid before a triple-header involving Baku, Malaysia and Singapore. That is followed by another three-race sequence featuring Austin, Mexico and São Paulo.

 

In total, that represents eight Grands Prix across just 10 weeks before the calendar moves on to Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

 

Malaysia’s inclusion has been particularly significant because the previously vacant weekend between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix would have provided teams with an opportunity to return home.

 

Instead, that break has disappeared from the calendar.

 

Humphrey believes the human cost of an increasingly packed F1 schedule deserves greater attention.

 

He argued that Formula 1’s decision-makers must consider the people working behind the scenes, rather than focusing exclusively on the racing spectacle and commercial benefits.

 

Former team boss highlights triple-header problem

 

Former F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer also discussed the difficulties created by the expanding calendar.

 

He recalled that when Liberty Media first took control of Formula 1, team principals were already concerned about the possibility of triple-headers.

 

According to Szafnauer, teams initially accepted the prospect of more races but strongly opposed having three consecutive race weekends because of the strain they place on personnel.

 

While one triple-header was eventually accepted, the number has since increased, creating an even greater burden.

 

The biggest problem, Szafnauer explained, is that staff cannot return home between races during a triple-header.

 

Mental health concerns

 

The issue goes beyond physical exhaustion.

 

Humphrey stressed that the relentless travelling, long working hours and limited time with family can also affect the mental wellbeing of those working in Formula 1.

 

As the sport continues to expand its global calendar, the challenge will be finding a balance between providing more races for fans and protecting the people who make those events possible.

 

For the drivers and spectators, a packed F1 calendar can mean more action and excitement. For many team employees, however, the 2026 season is demonstrating just how high the personal cost of that expansion can be.