Max Verstappen has called for change behind the organisation of the increasing length of the Formula 1 calendar, attacking the sport’s grouping of multiple races.
Never ceasing in its desire to expand, F1 is enjoying a record-breaking calendar in 2024, with 24 races held from late March, completing in early December.
However, 24 races demand a truncated calendar, and the now-established July triple header features back-to-back races in Spain, Austria, and the UK, testing the team’s stamina.
Two more triple headers will conclude the season, starting with the United States Grand Prix on October 18-20 and concluding with the Abu Dhabi GP on December 6-8.
Abu Dhabi concludes the second triple header with the Las Vegas and Qatar Grands Prix.
“I’ve always said it’s quite a lot of races that we have in the calendar,” argued Verstappen.
“But I think for me, it’s more just travelling with the time zone differences, between Vegas and Qatar.
“You’re flying almost to the other side of the world again, which I think we can do a little bit of a better job if we do triple-headers, that they are a bit closer together.
“For me, that would make a bit more sense, so that’s probably something that we have to look at.
“If we’re going to do so many races at least make sure that they are closer together.”
Verstappen highlights team fatigue at season’s end
Verstappen considered several factors at play in F1 calendar decision-making, ranging from ticket sales to team fatigue.
“Of course, it depends on ticket sales,” he said. “At the end of the day you have to come to a bit of a middle ground, right? It’s a long flight, Vegas to Qatar.
“But then, of course, you’re in Qatar, you fly to Abu Dhabi, which is fine. For me, that is not a problem.
“But yeah, end of the season, when you’re getting a bit tired, it’s easier also to get sick. And then actually flying for a long period of time is not helping.”
