Alpine: Three-week spring break for F1 perhaps 'a way forward'

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer says this year's unintended three-week break in April for F1 could be "a way forward" for the sport in terms of managing its schedule in the future.

F1's return to Shanghai after a three-year hiatus due to Covid was initially earmarked for this week, with the race being held on April 16.

But with the number of coronavirus cases remaining an issue in China, the promoters for the country's F1 event as well as the sport's chiefs wisely opted to cancel the event, which has left a three-week lull in the calendar.

With a record 23 races on the docket this season, teams and crews will be stretching it thin from Baku et the end of this month to F1's summer break at the end of July.

Szafnauer therefore sees a case to be made for F1's spring break to become an annual respite in the calendar.

"This break, although not planned, in a calendar that has 23 races and a lot of back-to-backs and triple-headers, it's nice to have a three week-break now, a three-week break in August and a break at Christmas," argued the Alpine team principal.

"Maybe if it's just so by luck that we gain the knowledge that it's good to do it this way. Maybe it should be by design in the future.

"I know the season just started but it's not about just the start of the season because a lot of people have worked hard over the winter, prepared the car for testing, then the races and now to have a bit of a break just helps you in what's coming up.

"And then in August, you have another break. It might be a way forward."

• Read also: Alpine confident of fighting Mercedes with upgraded A523

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner agreed with Szafnauer that the current break is useful to allow team personnel to recharge their batteries ahead of F1's upcoming grueling run from Baku to Spa.

"There's an opportunity to have a little bit of rest because the rest of the season will be tough," said Steiner. "I just said to the guys, 'Take it easy in these three weeks, don't do anything I wouldn't be doing'".

As far as F1's drivers are concerned, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is also delighted with F1's spring interlude, but not for his personal benefit. The Monegasque rather sees the period as an opportunity for Ferrari to get its act together after a difficult start to its 2023 campaign.

"I think in the situation we are in as a team, we take this as an opportunity to work as much as possible during this break in order to get upgrades as quickly as possible and be as competitive as we want the sooner in this season," Leclerc commented.

"It's still a very, very long season, we've only done two races. So, we are fully motivated to get back on top. And we'll try to use these weeks in the best way possible."

McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri says F1's break offers a chance to take stock of his performances in the first three races of the season.

"It's a nice opportunity to look back at the first three races of my F1 career and digest what went well, what went not so well," the Aussie said.

"And it's a bit of a reset for the rest of the year. So, I think it'll be nice for everyone.

"Obviously, you want to keep that momentum if you’re going well, it's a good chance to reset if you're not, so I think we'll use it to our advantage."

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