Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen highlighted his biggest problem with the 2024 race calendar/schedule.
The 2024 season is the longest in Formula 1 history in terms of the number of Grand Prix weekends. While there have previously been a maximum of 22 rounds, there are 24 this year.
The season started with the testing in Bahrain on the 21st of February and will conclude with the last Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi on the 8th of December.
At the start of this season, Max Verstappen said he thought there were too many races on the calendar. However, he now shared one thing that bothers him even more. He told RacingNews365:
"I've always said that there are a lot of races on the F1 calendar, but for me the biggest problem is crossing multiple time zones, like between Las Vegas and Qatar. You're almost flying to the other side of the world again."
"I think that for triple headers we can work better with races that are a bit closer together. That would make more sense in my opinion."
There are three triple headers this year, and for whatever reason, the 2024 season concludes with two triple headers in a row (separated by a two-week break).
The first one runs from Austin through Mexico City to Sao Paulo, which wouldn't be that big of a problem for F1 drivers. However, the second one runs from Las Vegas through Qatar to Abu Dhabi. Verstappen added:
"That's something we have to look at. A lot of it depends on ticket sales, of course. But at the end of the day, you have to find some kind of middle ground, right?"
"The flight from Vegas to Qatar is a long one. Then you fly from Qatar to Abu Dhabi and that is fine. That is not the problem."
"But at the end of the season, when you start to get a bit tired, you also get sick a bit more easily. The many long flights do not help with that."