While 22 drivers battle at more than 200mph for victory during each Formula 1 weekend, thousands of volunteers work behind the scenes to ensure every race can take place safely and smoothly.
A new FIA report has revealed the enormous scale of their contribution, with an average of 838 motorsport volunteers required for every F1 Grand Prix. Across a 24-race season, that represents more than 20,000 trained volunteers supporting the championship.
That works out to around 42 volunteers for every F1 driver, highlighting just how dependent the sport is on its volunteer workforce.
Their responsibilities go far beyond simply managing crowds or waving flags. Scrutineers require detailed technical knowledge of F1 regulations, medical teams must be prepared to respond to serious high-speed crashes, fire marshals undergo specialist training, while logistics teams coordinate the movement of equipment and personnel around international venues.
The commitment is also significant. Each volunteer contributes an average of 48 hours during a race weekend, resulting in an estimated 965,376 volunteer hours across a full F1 season. The FIA believes the actual figure could be even higher once pre-event training and preparation are included.
The FIA estimates that the combined economic value of this volunteer contribution reaches approximately €13.2 million per season, while organisers invest around €11.1 million in recruiting, training, accommodation and supporting the workforce.
Behind every F1 race is therefore a huge team that rarely receives the spotlight — but without them, the championship simply could not go racing.
