There were a lot of tired faces at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. And they are back here in Qatar a week on. These are races 22 and 23 of the 24-race calendar – the longest season Formula One has staged.
In 1950 when the world championship began, there were seven rounds. All were in Europe but for one, in America, on the great Indianapolis track. Travel was exotic then. It is ubiquitous now. The world is smaller.
But the rampage to more and more races has accelerated since 2017 under the ownership of Liberty Media, and the toll is such that hundreds of the 2,000-travelling corps are relying on sleeping pills to keep themselves sane.
Melatonin is the drug of choice. It is a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. At night melatonin levels rise before falling during the day, controlling sleep patterns.
Drivers, engineers, mechanics and media are among those taking a synthetic form of melatonin, which requires a prescription in Britain, to help them combat jet lag.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Lando Norris both referenced their use of the pills while in Las Vegas. Mercedes have been prescribing it for members of their staff since 2018, as part of their meticulous sleep preparations, particularly for those who fly in economy. They are not alone. McLaren deploy melatonin to staff who respond well to its sleep-inducing properties.
George Russell won the Las Vegas Grand Prix with Max Verstappen securing his fourth crown on the bounce
Third-placed Carlos Sainz referenced his taking the synthetic form of melatonin, which requires a prescription in Britain, to help combat jet lag
Lando Norris is another who takes the pills as McLaren deploy melatonin to staff who respond well to its sleep-inducing properties
Despite Sainz’s personal use of the drug, Ferrari ‘do not automatically supply it’, according to a spokeswoman. It must be purchased by individuals.
The drug – which is entirely legal – has increasingly come to the fore in F1 over the last couple of years, and nowhere was it more prevalent than in Vegas – where the race timetable pulls the body in two directions. Pacific Standard Time is eight hours behind GMT.
Yet the race is held at night, a 10pm start local time, meaning staff are still working deep into the early hours. So you are living Australian hours in North America. And then it is off to Qatar a week later – three hours ahead of GMT.
‘It is quite a turnaround,’ said Norris. ‘In Las Vegas you have to try to stay asleep when it is light in the morning, and try to stay up when it is dark. It’s a big challenge.
‘There may be better things than melatonin, but they are not legal.
‘Time is the best way of adjusting but you don’t always get that luxury.
‘If it is a four-hour switch or more, I’d take melatonin.’
Drivers in a way have it easiest – the private jets and front-row seats, and they are hardly hanging around for Uber when they touch down.
A Ferrari spokesperson revealed that the Italian side do not supply the pills to individuals – who must acquire them themselves
Norris was open in Las Vegas about the struggles of adapting to the different time differences throughout the season
One team insider told Confidential: ‘The usual drill is along these lines: booking the flight to give the best possible sleep, in the best cabin possible. Advice is given on hydration.
‘Melatonin is prescribed for those who respond well to it. And then it is important to acclimatise as fast as possible by hitting the hours on arrival at the hotel.’
At Mercedes, all staff other than the drivers and their race engineers are given at least two races off per year. Many colleagues rotate far more than that.
In light of the demanding schedule, Mercedes are among teams who have modified their working patterns so that mechanics are not required in the factory between races.
Melatonin is not believed to be addictive, but it does have side-effects: sleepy feelings during the day, headaches, stomach pain, dizziness, dry mouth, dry skin and irritability.
One team executive told me: ‘It gives me a wicked hangover in the sense that I feel I’m walking in fog the next day.’
But with so many races on the calendar, melatonin is a life-enhancer for others. A member of the media told me: ‘I couldn’t manage without it. I take it regularly. If it doesn’t work, you need to take more.’
A triumph for FIA chief
You would have thought FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem could do nothing right from some of his notices.
Everyone at Mercedes other than drivers and race engineers is forced to take two races off a year
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been one of the staunchest proponents of GM joining F1
But a triumph for him this week. He was the staunchest proponent of General Motors joining Formula One. He was right. The old cabal needed a little shake up, no matter what Liberty and the self-interested teams reckoned.
More cars, more drivers, another major manufacturer. What’s not to like?
Ben Sulayem’s persistence – and an American Department of Justice antitrust investigation after aspiring team’s original application was rejected – resulted in this week’s news that GM will be joining as Cadillac F1 in 2028.
Lando’s wide of the mark with ‘comedy’ claim
Lando Norris made a hash of his title challenge and Max Verstappen capitalised to become the first man since Brabham’s Nelson Piquet 41 years ago to clinch the title in the third best car.
So Verstappen has reason to say he would have clinched the honours ‘a lot sooner’ if the pair of them had swapped cars, remembering that Norris’s McLaren was stronger for most of the season than his Red Bull.
Norris calls Verstappen’s suggestion a ‘comedy’ claim. I’m sorry, Lando, that doesn’t wash.
Russell a worthy successor
A fine win by George Russell in Las Vegas. A champion’s drive, indeed. A fine pole, a confident start, a clinical defence when under pressure from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. And then controlling affairs from the front.
Master George looks every inch Lewis Hamilton’s worthy heir.
Verstappen clinched the championship title on Sunday despite driving the third-best car
Russell’s fine drive on Sunday was the win of a champion – he looks every inch the heir to Lewis Hamilton’s throne
FIA’s double departure
It’s never dull at FIA HQ on Place de la Concorde. Two more heads roll.
Senior steward Tim Mayer was sacked by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, as revealed, and incoming Formula Two race director Janette Tan has left.
George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said: ‘We would love to get clarity and understanding of what is going on and who is getting fired next.’
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