Verstappen says calendar is 'crazy' and warns F1 owner Liberty Media

On the eve of the new season, Max Verstappen has been critical - not for the first time - of the length of the Formula 1 calendar. A record 24 races are scheduled for 2024 and the reigning world champion thinks this is too much of a good thing.

If media reports are to be believed, it seems that the 24-race calendar will grow in years to come. More and more promoters want to bring Formula 1 to their countries. After all, the US owner of motorsport's top class make big money from this.

Limit has been reached

"I feel that we're already way over the limit of races," Verstappen said in the press conference ahead of the race weekend in Bahrain. The 26-year-old Dutchman indicated that he will not keep this up for another 10 years like this. With all the travelling each year, the Red Bull Racing driver is on the road for more than 30 weeks and he does not like that.

"This is not sustainable. I love racing a lot and I do it a lot, also outside of Formula 1, but at one point you start looking into the quality of life and how much you are away for doing this sport and at one point I prefer to just be at home and focus on other projects because this is crazy," he warns.

"At the end of the day of course it's not the Formula 1. It's what they want to do with their sport. But if people in the sport start shortening their careers because it's too much, I think that's a bit of a shame."

The new Formula One season kicks off on Saturday with the first Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit. The last race of 2024 is not until 8 December in Abu Dhabi.