8.4 Heat Size Limits

e): 5 Skaters for 500 m and 1000 m races through the Final, and 7 Skaters for the 1500 m Semi-Finals and Final. These limits manage collision risk on the compact 111.12 m track, where larger packs increase the probability of chain-reaction contact, particularly in the corners.

Source: Rule 291

Send this to your friend — argument over.