Brown: 24 Grand Prix races per F1 season feels optimum

F1 has come off a gruelling 2023 season which was meant to have 24 rounds but was shortened to 22 when the Chinese Grand Prix fell off the schedule due to another COVID scare, as did the washed-out Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

In his year-end letter to McLaren fans, Brown wrote: "For 2024, the calendar will expand to 24 races. Firstly, it will be great to return to Imola, one year on from the devastating floods that hit the Emilia-Romagna region last spring and led to the cancellation of the race.

"There will also be a welcome return to Shanghai for our first visit to China since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic," said the McLaren boss. "I think that 24 races feels optimum."

With the sport booming globally, demand exceeds the amount of GP weekends a calendar year can accommodate while jetting and trucking F1 to venues scattered around the globe.

It's not only a massive carbon footprint that it tramples but also a strain on F1 professionals, teams and crews that are required to be at every race.

With F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reportedly considering a queue of wannabe Grand Prix host venues, the idea of keeping a core selection of races that should never be dropped, while rotating the newcomers as long as there is a demand.

Brown likes the idea: "I agree with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Dominicali’s suggestion of keeping the calendar invigorated with the rotation of some race venues. As Stefano has suggested, a limited amount of rotation could help with the demand from promoters who are interested in hosting a race.

"Giving an opportunity for fans in different parts of the world to experience Formula 1. It also provides a fresh challenge to the drivers and engineers by keeping them on their toes."

The McLaren boss sees a dynamic future for the sport: "The continued growth of F1 also provides new opportunities to multi-national companies, and it’s great to see that there has been an influx of quality investors who want to partner with teams, such as Arctos with Aston Martin and Otro with Alpine.

"Bringing with them global sporting stars like Rory McIlroy, Anthony Joshua and Patrick Mahomes, and our very own MSP Sports Capital, to name a few."

With the boom has come interest from a Michael Andretti-led consortium that includes General Motors (aka Cadillac) and backing from Alpine happy to supply Power Units to the project. Until GM runs their own PU, sometime in the future.

Brown ventured: "Formula 1 has always been attractive to car manufacturers. We know that Audi is entering the sport in 2026, but this year has also been significant as Ford have confirmed their return (in partnership with Red Bull) and GM/Cadillac, who have announced their desire to enter the sport with Andretti Global."