Max Verstappen admits 24-race F1 schedule is too much

Max Verstappen has admitted he wishes there were fewer races on the Formula 1 calendar amid a brutal end to the 2026 season.

The four-time world champion spoke ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the third race of a triple header after the United States Grand Prix and the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The 2026 season was originally scheduled as a 24-round championship.

That number dropped to 23 after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was canceled in April as a result of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Uncertainty still hangs over the planned races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi amid ongoing instability in the Middle East.

Verstappen did not hold back when asked about the toll of the extended calendar.

"It's a lot," he said.

"I think even when I started in Formula 1, it was like 17 or 18 maybe."

"I for sure wish that it was less than 24, but at the same time, of course, I understand the reasons behind why we are having 24 races."

Then came the remark that caught the attention of fans and insiders alike.

"Unfortunately, my contract didn't add in if it was 17, 18, or 24 in terms of payments, so that's maybe something to look at," Verstappen added.

The Dutch driver, who became a father last year, explained how the grueling schedule affects him personally.

"The thing is when I was 18, I was like, whatever, I'm going to race every single weekend," he said.

"Now, I do still race a lot, but of course, if you have a family as well at home, it's more about just missing your family when you are away."

"I know of course you can sometimes bring them over, but at the same time, you're working, it's your work. So it's not always very easy to then spend a lot of time together. 24 is a lot, but it is what it is."

His comments come amid growing concern among drivers about the physical and mental toll of the modern F1 schedule.

Ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen pointed to the calendar as a factor behind several drivers falling ill.

Fernando Alonso, whose Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll missed Thursday's media day due to illness, agreed that 24 races is "borderline too many."

"It's the same. Not really much to add," Alonso said.

"I think they're a lot, borderline to be too many, and maybe the calendar is not really efficient."

"To be in Brazil now and go back to Europe and in 10 days go to Vegas, it's a big thing for this part of the season. But it's the way it is, I don't think there is a solution in place."

Rookie Arvid Lindblad offered a different perspective, saying he is okay with the number of races even though it is a step up from his junior career.

"It's quite a few. It's a bit more than I'm used to. Last year in F2 it was 14," the F1 newcomer said.

The current schedule features three triple-headers with only one-week breaks in between them.

This weekend's race in Brazil forms the second of those triple-headers.

Drivers will then face a trip back to Europe before heading to Las Vegas in 10 days, a logistical challenge Alonso described as "a big thing."

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix also brings the threat of rain, which raises memories of the software bug that plagued the first wet race of the 2026 season in Malaysia.

During the formation laps behind the safety car at Sepang, nearly half the field came to a halt.

The problem was a software bug linked to the 250kW restrictions imposed by the FIA for wet-weather races.

That bug caused the electric motors to enter lock-down mode in the slowest parts of the circuit.

With no electric power available to offset turbo lag, nothing happened when drivers pressed the throttle.

The FIA lifted the restrictions for the most problematic minisectors after about 20 minutes and sent new software to teams and manufacturers.

Drivers were then able to install the updated version and get the race underway.

The same emergency measure was applied in Singapore, followed by a test with modified software in Austin.

At the Circuit of the Americas, the FIA ran a simulation at the end of FP1 with cars running in low grip mode to test additional software protections.

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained in Malaysia that the bug had only surfaced during the race because the FIA could not conduct sufficient testing with the 2026 cars in wet conditions beforehand.

He confirmed he could guarantee that specific bug would not recur, though he added he could not rule out all bugs.