Esteban Ocon has voiced concerns about the toll the grueling final stretch of the 2024 Formula 1 calendar is taking on travelling team staff, as illness becomes an increasing issue in the paddock.
Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was notably absent from the Qatar paddock during Thursday's media day, citing a cold. World champion Max Verstappen had earlier predicted that the demanding travel schedule—from Las Vegas to Qatar—would leave F1 staff vulnerable to illness.
"At the end of the season, when you're getting a bit tired anyway, you also get sick a bit more easily," Verstappen explained. "The many long flights do not help with that."
Ocon, who traveled to Qatar with his Alpine team after the Las Vegas GP, acknowledged that the hectic schedule affects the team staff far more than the drivers, who enjoy more luxurious accommodations and travel arrangements.
"I'm almost acclimatised after Vegas," said the Frenchman. "But not everyone in the team feels the same. I flew with the team from Vegas and tried to help some of the guys wake up at the right time, but it didn't always work. People are very tired.
"Some slept for 15 hours, which didn't help acclimatise here," he added. "These three grands prix at the end of the season have been particularly difficult."
The Las Vegas-Qatar-Abu Dhabi triple-header marks one of the most challenging travel schedules of the year, at the end of the longest-ever 24 race calendar. Ocon hopes the strain does not lead to a wider spread of illness within the paddock.
"Hopefully not too many people in the paddock get sick," he said. "That's the most important thing. We need to stay healthy and focused until the end of the season." body check tags ::
