Verstappen feels 22-race calendar is enough
Max Verstappen doesn't see any value in testing an old car before the season.
Liberty Media and the FIA may have opened the door on a 25-race calendar, but Max Verstappen has urged them to stop at this year’s 22.
The 2020 Formula 1 was set to be the longest-ever with 22 grands prix.
That, though, is now down to 21 after China was postponed due to the coronavirus.
However, China aside, Formula 1 was expected to be in action 22 of 52 weekends, starting mid-March in Australia and concluding at the end of November with the Abu Dhabi GP.
With the powers-that-be wanting even more races, they comprised with a shorter grand prix weekend, which will come into effect in 2021.
Instead of a race weekend running from Thursday to Sunday, it will be Friday to Sunday with Thursday’s scutineering and media commitments moved to Friday morning.
But even with a shorter weekend, Verstappen says 22 is enough.
“I think the current number of races is okay,” he tells his own website. “I would not want to do any more, as we are already a lot away from home.
“It is not only the races, but also everything else in between.
“That is why I would not want to do any more grand prix.
“Not because I do not like it, but because it will be too busy.
“I think it is important to be able to have a life outside of Formula 1.”
But while Verstappen admits he also wants a life away from the F1 race tracks, that doesn’t mean it will be away from motor racing as a whole.
Asked if he was looking outside of F1, he replied: “Slowly. But it depends on what your hobbies are… mine are always in racing. So in that respect I am staying mostly in the same world.”
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