After six races in eight weeks, the pitpass team is shattered, so one can only imagine how the recent schedule is affecting those at the very heart of the F1 circus.

However, it's not just about Grand Prix meetings, for most of the teams have been testing, when allowed, in addition to carrying out promotional duties for sponsors, while Minardi even headed to South Africa to run a two-seater display in front of thousands of eager race fans at Kyalami.

This year, the Formula One calendar consists of 18 races, the most events ever, while the 2005 schedule is likely to consist of 19 races and 2006 as many as 20.

Speaking yesterday, Minardi boss Paul Stoddart expressed the feelings of quite a few F1 people. "I'm knackered," he told reporters. "I am shattered.

"I didn't realise what three back-to-backs would do," he continued, "seven races in nine weeks, your life's just changed. I've had to push things to one side, meetings I would normally have done.

"Looking around this paddock there are some pretty tired people," he added. "By the time we do Silverstone there will be some very tired people.

"It's funny," said the Australian. "Last year we did 16 and we all more or less breezed through that. You wouldn't think just two more races would make a difference, but its just the continually back-to-back ones that have really hurt, they really do knock you back.

Pitpass first learned of team manager John Walton's heart attack on Tuesday evening, but chose not to 'break' the story out of respect to the team, John, and indeed his partner, ITV commentator Louise Goodman.

Behind the smiles of the Minardi team as it sought to give something back to the fans at the Regent Street event, lay the stark reality that one of its own was gravely ill.

According to reports however, John is not the only F1 insider to suffer a heart attack in recent days, we understand that a member of the Ferrari team has also been hospitalized.

Formula One is stressful enough as it is, however one can't help but feel that the run of back-to-back races is pushing people to the absolute limit.

Although there is no proof that John's heart attack is as a direct result of the heavy schedule, it certainly hasn't helped matters.

At a time when we are, quite rightly, lauding Max Mosley for his work regarding safety on track, perhaps a little more attention should be paid to the welfare of the other unsung heroes of the paddock and pitlane.

Finally may we at Pitpass, take the opportunity to wish John, Louise and the entire Minardi team, the very best.