(Motorsports news) Verstappen has frequently expressed his dissatisfaction with F1’s expanding schedule, which will reach its pinnacle of 24 races next year and necessitate roughly 200,000 miles of air travel despite modest attempts to lessen its environmental impact. F1’s record season will begin with a doubleheader in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, then four separate flyaway races in Australia, Japan, China, and Miami, as well as two tripleheaders later in the year.
A further burden on the team staff is the addition of up to six sprint events in F1 per season. Verstappen claimed in an interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that the F1 series’ insatiable need for expansion occasionally causes him to wonder “whether it is all worth it” to continue competing. Verstappen, whose 2028 Red Bull F1 agreement might be his last, stated, “I’m worried about the sport I have always enjoyed.” I still do, but only a little bit.
“I’m not completely opposed to change, as some people seem to think. But any modifications must improve Formula 1. When things are working well, why make changes? Traditional qualifying sessions, which don’t always have to be about winning money, are a fantastic format, in my opinion.
Max Verstappen makes a lot of money, so why is that guy unhappy, some people might ask. However, what matters is your wellbeing and how you perceive the world, not how much money you make. I sometimes question whether it is still worthwhile since I feel like I have to do too much and skip other things that I enjoy doing.
Verstappen claims he loses a “month per year” to Red Bull’s massive marketing initiatives. Verstappen claims his criticism of the human cost F1 is bearing is not just focused on the amount of races but also on all the other off-track duties that are required of the job. “Travel isn’t the main issue. It’s more about everything else I have to do, Verstappen said. “Depending on where we are during a racing weekend, Thursdays can be very long, and there is a lot of simulator work done outside of the grand prix.
“For instance, marketing costs me more than a month per year. You simply stop feeling like doing all that at a certain point. If Red Bull fails to qualify for the new rule cycle in 2026, the Dutchman was asked if he may leave Formula One before his current 2028 contract expires. He responded, “Things would have to be pretty bad for that to happen.
“With all the fantastic players we have, I don’t anticipate the squad to regress by much. However, it’s certainly feasible that you’re not very competitive in this sport. I don’t see me travelling in the midfield for three years, but it depends on the prospects. I would then prefer to stay home or go do something else. But once more, I don’t anticipate it to occur.
