Red Bull’s Sergio Perez Threatens To Leave F1 As Sport Continues To Grow

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has threatened to leave F1 if the calendar continues to grow as expected. This year, if Russia wasn’t dropped from the calendar, would have been the longest F1 calendar yet with 23 races, but as F1 begins talks with more and more locations, it’s likely to grow even further.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted that he’s in talks with several venues as well as the addition of Las Vegas to next year’s calendar, the third race to take place in America.

“I think there is potential to go to 24 [races],” he told Sky Sports a month ago. “I would say there is potential to go to 30 in terms of the interest we see all around the world.

“It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are the historical values we need to see on the calendar.”

Sergio Perez was asked about this increase in racing, and while he was optimistic about the sport as a whole, he doesn’t think he wants to be a part of that.

“What I’m really optimistic about is the fact it’s growing a lot,” the Red Bull driver told The Athletic. “I can see wherever we go in the world, you feel it on the streets, people recognise you a lot more.

“People are into the sport a lot more, there’s a very big demand. But on the other hand, having too many races is a no-go, at least for me.

“Right now you’re basically [immersed in] it because we have so many races. We have simulator sessions before each event. We have partner events.

“We basically have zero time for ourselves and for our families. I have a couple of young children [with a third on the way]. I think if the calendar [expands] more, then I definitely will not do it.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner agrees, agreeing that 23 races a year should be the limit.