Verstappen questions future in F1 due to crowded race calendar
Jul.7 - Max Verstappen says the ever-expanding Formula 1 calendar could be a reason to quit the sport after his Red Bull contract expires in 2028.
F1 this week published a whopping 24-race calendar for next season, although many of the races have been more strategically grouped for geographical regions.
"I think it's at least a bit more logical, the way it's been planned," said the reigning world champion. "But it's too many (races) for me.
"More things will have to come together for me to make my mind up over whether I stay longer or not," said the Dutchman, who has also made public his concerns about the 2026 engine and chassis rules.
"These things are definitely not helping for sure."
When asked about Verstappen's comments, Mercedes rival George Russell smirked that it sounds as though the 25-year-old is simply positioning himself for a pay-rise.
"He is the highest-paid on this grid," said the Briton, "and rightly so for what he is achieving. "But I think his threat of retirement is all a big tactic."
While Verstappen complains, however, Lewis Hamilton insisted that he is still planning to extend his contract at Mercedes beyond the end of the season.
"Before the end of the season I will already be well into the contract," said the 38-year-old.
But the oldest driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso, admitted that the long calendars are getting more and more "difficult" for those working in Formula 1.
"Of course I see the benefits that come with 24 races a year," said the almost-42-year-old. "I understand that it generates more revenue for everyone.
"But I think looking at the team members, 18 races a year would be a good number. If there are more than 18 or 19, it gets stressful for the mechanics and the media. Everyone is then stressed from February to December.
"As drivers, we can't complain too much because we have all the benefits and are looked after as best we can. But I understand that it's hard for everyone else," the two-time world champion added.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
Tired of hearing about Hamilton. He is a Sir, he is a champion, and he should retire with glass of champagne on coast somewhere.
Spelling error, he is a Cur, not a Sir!
Not the first time.
Here's an idea. Go back 50 yrs pre-Bernie. Maybe count the best 15 race finishes towards the championships. Let the mf'ing price gouging promoters work to attract the best entries. Yeah, I know, you can't go backwards and it is a silly idea, but I'm just tired of hearing how 'stressful' racing is. Motor racing at this level is the most fun you will ever have in your lives, younguns, suck it up.
You are somewhat correct, ROR. Before Bernie created the monster that has now become patented F1, it was a sport at the highest level. Now it is but a money making machine for a small group of people.
However, back 50 years ago there were far fewer races and only a small number of mechanics who made up the pit crew, rather than the huge entourage that each team now has to attend races. So I get it that the support personnel who work to prepare the cars to race are becoming somewhat fatigued by the ever expanding racing season. Time away from home and family can be very onerous.
I guess all drivers dream of becoming as great as Fangio, although that is difficult, as nobody has yet equalled Fangio's enviable record of win percentages.
ROR, I think you and I are among the lucky ones who witnessed F1 as a sport in which sportsmen participated 50 or so years ago. Back then, if you were in the pits, you could walk up to a driver and openly chat with them without it being stage managed or overseen by their minders! I have good memories of chatting with Graham Hill, Piers Courage, Chris Amon, Jim Clark and Frank Gardner in the pits. Those days are now gone. Going backwards in time to those days would have more pluses than minuses in my view! Fond memories of the past!
As an F1 mechanic in the early seventies it was all go. yes we did less races, but the cars were fragile and needed constant maintenance, with only 2 mechanics per car we bult the car, maintained it, loaded and unloaded the transporter drove it to and from the meetings, put up with obstinate border officials in Europe, the list goes on and on. It was seven days a week with a few all-nighters thrown in, but we loved it, and did it gladly to be part of F1 at that time. No hospitality units in those days, rarely did we have time for lunch, the mechanics today are on easy street and have no reason to complain.
Thank you for the first hand knowledge, John. Sometimes I think that posters on this site think I am either a liar or demented. LOL If you were at Watkins Glen early 70's I probably saw you from behind the 4' chain link in the corrugated tin garage. Funny, in those days nobody even tried to hide stuff. And even my support race mechanic & his gofer worked 18 hr days.
Yes i was there in 73 and 74