Verstappen: 22-race F1 calendar will lead to divorces
Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen has questioned the extension of the 2020 calendar to 22 races, and suggested that it will lead to divorces for mechanics.
Next year's schedule will be the longest in the history of the sport, with Hockenheim going and Hanoi and Verstappen's own home race at Zandvoort added.
Verstappen says his main concern is for crew members, who have to spend long hours at circuits.
"I don't agree with 22 races a year," he said. "I think we should just pick the best tracks out there – I know they want to make money, but they also have to think about the mechanics who rock up to the track.
"They arrive Monday or Tuesday to build everything up while the big bosses arrive on a Saturday or maybe even a Saturday morning and fly even during the race back home.
"For them it's not a problem, they can easily do 30, because they're only away for three days.
"For most of the people it's at least five or six days, and then I'm not even complaining about us, it's the mechanics, they can file for a divorce straight away if there's going to be more."
Racing Point's Sergio Perez expressed similar sentiments on behalf of crew members.
"It's a lot of action," said the Mexican. "Not for drivers, we love racing, although it's a lot of big commitments, because we don't only have the racing, we have the simulator, sponsorship events, we have to keep fit and so on, so it's a lot – it's over the limit.
"But also for the mechanics. They're here since Monday, they leave sometimes on Tuesday, so it's already I think on the very high side for the people that work in the teams."
Perez admitted that a busier schedule was harder now that he is a family man with children.
"Yeah, I'll see if they don't divorce me! We started when there were 19 races. It's a lot. But as I say I think for us drivers it's a lot of work, but some of the European races we are able to come early on Thursday, and so on.
"I'm more concerned for the mechanics, and engineers, I think they're the ones who are going to be quite worried.
"I doubt they will be able to have any social life at this level, so it's very hard. There will be a point where we might be looking to have two crews, and splitting them or something."
Share Or Save This Story
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
“Am I confident? Probably not” – The unprecedented challenge Singapore is throwing at F1 drivers
“Unfinished business” for Max Verstappen – Has Red Bull finally fixed its Singapore weakness?
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Red Bull is overcoming ADUO restrictions but still calls on tweaks for F1 2027
Charles Leclerc: Ferrari must learn from Red Bull to improve F1 race strategy
The hidden F1 performance differentiator nobody is talking about in 2026
F1 Singapore GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
The unselfish anchor behind Jack Aitken’s first IMSA GTP title, Earl Bamber reflects on 2026 campaign
How Hurricane Isaias may impact NASCAR's Charlotte race weekend
Why Red Bull's 'crazy' power unit success matters so much for F1
Why Red Bull's 'crazy' power unit success matters so much for F1
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments