The expansion of Formula 1’s calendar means teams may soon have to adopt a rotation policy, believes Toro Rosso Team Manager Graham Watson.
Formula 1’s calendar has steadily grown and this season marks the third time in the last four years that the championship will feature a 21-event schedule.
Vietnam, meanwhile, will join the roster from 2020, while Formula 1 chiefs continue to explore potential new locations, with a Miami Grand Prix frequently touted, while also attempting to renew contracts with current events.
Formula 1 teams typically keep a core crew at each Grand Prix but Watson believes such an approach will need to change in the future, if the calendar keeps expanding.
“Honestly, I think we’re almost there,” he said of whether teams have to think of implementing a rotation system.
“We’ve already started a little bit of a rotation with most of the departments now to help sustain it.
“However, when it comes to the race mechanics, it’s a little bit trickier.
“Next year, 2020, we’re scheduled to have a new race in Vietnam.
“If that pushes the race total to 22, then I think we will seriously have to reconsider how we operate in terms of personnel at the track.
“Part of my job is to keep motivation high, I try to give the guys as much time off as possible, but as the calendar is so busy it’s not an easy task.”
Watson also explained that half of the Honda staff within Toro Rosso from 2018 have been redistributed to Red Bull, which joins Toro Rosso in being powered by the Japanese marque, ensuring a “perfectly fair” system between the respective teams.
“Basically, we keep 50 per cent of the Honda personnel who worked with us in 2018 and Red Bull gets the other 50 per cent,” he said.
“So both teams get half the 2018 guys and half new Honda personnel. I think that’s the best and fairest approach.
“Given we have new people on board, we need to do our best to integrate them within the team and find the best practices to work efficiently with each other.
“If the past has taught us anything, this should be a simple process and by the end of the first test everyone will be familiar with one another.”
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