Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: February 29, 2024, 00:01 IST
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Triple Formula One champion Max Verstappen mentioned on Wednesday the game was “way over the limit” with the variety of races on its calendar as he ready to begin a document 24round season.
SAKHIR, Bahrain: Triple Formula One champion Max Verstappen mentioned on Wednesday the game was “way over the limit” with the variety of races on its calendar as he ready to begin a document 24-round season.
The 26-year-old Red Bull driver begins on Saturday as clear favorite, chasing his fourth successive championship, however even along with his streak of success has discovered the calendar growth to be sporting skinny.
“From my side I’ve said it before — this is not sustainable,” Verstappen advised reporters on the Bahrain International Circuit.
“I love racing a lot and I do it a lot also outside of Formula One.
“But, if people in the sport start shortening their careers because it’s too much I think that’s a shame and so hopefully of course we can have a look at that for the future.”
Formula One’s reputation has soared lately, pushed partly by the success of Netflix present ‘Drive to Survive’.
The sport’s business rights holders Liberty Media have capitalised by including new venues within the Middle East, some returning classics in Europe and three races in America, with Miami and Las Vegas becoming a member of long-time fixture Austin.
Teams have begun to rotate personnel to deal with the calls for of such a protracted calendar whereas pre-season testing this yr was diminished to only three days.
Spain’s double world champion Fernando Alonso, 42, a veteran of the game who made his debut in 2001, echoed Verstappen and recalled the times when the calendar featured lower than 20 races.
“When I started we had 16 races, then it was 18 at some point, and then I think when Liberty came it was like a message that we have 20 one season and that was absolutely the limit, 20 races,” mentioned the Aston Martin driver.
“And now we are up to 24 and this is not sustainable for the future.
“Even the world champion thinks this is a little bit long, the season.
“Imagine for the rest of us, we go to the races in the second half for nothing, there is no incentive to fight for anything.”
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)
