Todt hits out at 'privileged' who lament F1 calendar expansion

FIA president Jean Todt chastised those in F1 who bemoan the calendar's expansion to 22 races this season, insisting they should consider themselves "blessed" to be part of the sport.

Grand Prix racing's schedule will reach a record high in 2020, with regulations allowing for an increase up to 25 races in the future.

But the current expansion also implies a heightened burden and strain on team personnel, inevitable consequences that F1 will combat in 2021 by shortening the race weekend schedule.

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However, Todt believes that passion should surpass the worries of stress for those who are fortunate enough to work in the sport.

"I think it will be a long process before being close to 25 races," said Todt, quoted by Autosport.

"Probably so much emphasis on speculating and assessing 25 races, and at the moment we should concentrate on 22, which is the situation.

"About what it represents, here I may have a different point of view.

"I really feel that, and I include myself, we are so blessed to be in a world where we love what we do. We have the passion. We are privileged.

"Whoever is in F1 is privileged. Of course, you have some duties.

"When I was in other positions [as Ferrari team principal], I was working 18 hours every day, seven days, six or seven days a week, because I had passion, I wanted a result.

"Then of course, the family, if you have a beloved family, they will understand. And you don't do that for all your life."

The FIA president admits that his travels around the world, especially to under-developed nations, has helped him put things into perspective.

"Believe me, I do a lot in the other activities in my life, where I see people, if they are blessed, they get $30 a month, in certain countries," he said. "So we should not forget that.

"You have an eight billion population, and you have 800 million people, they [are not able] to eat, to drink, to get a vaccination.

"We're here to talk about F1, but we must not close our eyes and forget what is happening, for other people, for other communities.

"I feel again, we have to be blessed, and all those who are in F1, with much higher salaries, incidentally, than any other business, should be very happy."

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