FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem of the UAE, a 14-time Middle East rally champion himself, has thanked the thousands of volunteers who help make Formula One racing happen and revealed a landmark study by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile that showcases just how deeply committed they are to their role with great flexibility and dedication.
The research, which is being carried out by the FIA University, the academic body of the Federation, for the first time highlights that a minimum of 20,112 trained volunteers are needed to meet operational requirements for every season on all 24 rounds of international Formula You World Championship calendar.
The total number of volunteers that will assist across the sum of each individual race weekend averages 838, which breaks down to one volunteer for every 42 F1 drivers on track at any given time, boasting the best worldwide sport ratio in volunteer-to-competitor numbers.
And with each volunteer donating about 48 hours of service to each race weekend, that adds up to over 965,376 hours of service for the world’s foremost racing series across the entire season.
Emirati motorsport legend Ben Sulayem commented: “The FIA Formula One World Championship is built upon volunteers, they are the backbone of our sport – without them we simply could not go racing. Units that keep our contests safe and fair. They operate professionally and with pride, and they help drivers, teams and fans.
“The FIA greatly values their involvement and this landmark report not only provides important insight into their contribution but acknowledges our major investment, ensuring the FIA continues to provide support in the best possible ways.
“We are powering the FIA Formula One World Championship with our Members, and with our volunteers globally!
From flag marshals to observers, incident officers to extrication teams across the country, volunteers are the race makers that keep motor sport safe and contribute to create the unmistakable spirit of camaraderie, teamwork and unity on display at every round of the Championship.
Very few, however, are just passing through the door — 65 per cent of volunteers use annual leave or unpaid time off to serve at events, according to the report.
The FIA, as the global governing body for motor sport invests extensive resources into developing the long-term future of the sport, safeguarding each and every race by deploying trained scrutineers in dedicated teams. The study puts a €11 million price tag on the training and development programmes delivered by the FIA andits member clubs every year, whilst it estimates that those receiving these initiatives generate over $45 billion in annual revenue.
Retention remains a key strength. 66 per cent of Formula One volunteers have been involved for 5+ years which indicates a positive and sustainable culture throughout race weekends. Such consistency has been vital as the sport continued to expand globally, with volunteer workloads increasing by 20 per cent on the same period.
Volunteering even provides a priceless way for race fans to be involved in their own F1 Grand Prix. For many, it has become a fulfilling leisure activity alongside their careers, with the total replacement labour value of their contribution estimated at €13.2 million every year.
These figures reinforce the economic value of volunteers and how serious the FIA is about supporting them.
The new report, which is the FIA’s first in the history of its annual ‘Volunteer Insight’ survey, outlines a series of recommendations that will help improve volunteer experiences and promote a positive retention rate.