Race three in Australia? Russell thinks the current format is too tough

For many years it was the opening of the Formula One season: a trip to Melbourne. After the race was not on the calendar at all last season due to the corona pandemic, it was back last week. No longer as the opener, but race number three.

Additional burden

The Formula 1 teams have already put in a lot of flight hours. A test in Bahrain, a race in Saudi Arabia and a trip to the other side of the world. For the teams - all based in Europe - Australia is always far. It's an extra burden when you're already in the middle of the season, with no time to acclimatize.

Talking to Motorsportweek, George Russell says that Melbourne in the middle of the season is too heavy for the teams, especially after a week's break. In it, most teams have flown back to England or Italy, only to travel on to Australia again via the Middle East. The Mercedes driver suggests that next year's Melbourne Grand Prix should be stuck right behind the Middle East races, avoiding the need to go back and forth to Europe.

Many flight hours

In the coming weeks, there are still quite a few flying hours on the schedule. After the Grand Prix in Imola, the whole circus will cross the ocean for the first race in Miami. In June the logistically difficult Grand Prix in Baku awaits, to start a week later in Canada.