Max Verstappen says F1 is over the limit with 24-race calendar

SAKHIR – Three-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen said on Feb 28 that the sport was “way over the limit” with the number of races on its calendar, as he prepared to start a record 24-round season.

The Red Bull driver starts on March 2 as the clear favourite, chasing his fourth successive championship, but even with his streak of success, he has found the calendar expansion taxing.

“I’ve said it before, this is not sustainable,” he said ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“I love racing a lot and I do it a lot also outside of Formula One. But, if people in the sport start shortening their careers because it’s too much, that’s a shame and hopefully we can have a look at that.”

Formula One’s popularity has soared in recent years, driven in part by the success of Netflix show Drive To Survive.

The sport’s commercial rights holders Liberty Media have capitalised by adding venues in the Middle East, some returning classics in Europe and three races in the United States, with Miami and Las Vegas joining long-time fixture Austin.

Teams have begun to rotate personnel to cope with the demands of a long calendar. Pre-season testing was significantly reduced – since 2021, they have gone from two four-day sessions to a single three-day session. 

Spain’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, a veteran of the sport who made his debut in 2001, echoed Verstappen and recalled the days when the calendar featured less than 20 races.

“When I started we had 17 races, then it was 18 at some point, and then I think when Liberty came it was like 20 one season and that was absolutely the limit, 20 races,” said the Aston Martin driver.

“And now we are up to 24 and this is not sustainable for the future.

“Even the world champion thinks this is a little bit long, the season. Imagine for the rest of us, we go to the races in the second half for nothing, there is no incentive to fight for anything.”

However, former Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer reckons the limit could still be some way off.

The American, on gardening leave until August after his stint as principal of Alpine ended last July, felt that the sport could manage more with careful planning.

“For me, if you plan it right, I think between 25 and 30 is the right number,” he said, adding that he started thinking while at Alpine about the logistics of how to keep staff happy and do more races.

Since his departure, the Soft Pauer company he co-founded has launched an EventR app – for itinerary-planning solutions – to help make group travelling easier and less tiring for racing teams.

“I get what Liberty (Media) are doing, it’s the right thing for the sport,” Szafnauer said of the gradual expansion. “We’re a global sport... should we be going to 25, 26, 27 races?  

“That’s sustainable. If you can overcome the logistics, which I think you can with a bit of planning, and then overcome the human element of it... you just have to look at it in a creative way.” REUTERS