Max Verstappen isn’t holding back about what he thinks of Formula 1’s packed schedule. The three-time world champion says 24 races is way too many, and he’s got some serious backup – racing legend Alain Prost agrees.
It’s pretty wild to think that just ten years ago, F1 teams were doing 19 races a year. That was already a lot. Now? They’re looking at 24 weekends of racing in 2025.
Last year’s season was actually one for the books. McLaren pulled off their first team championship since 1998, with Lando Norris sealing the deal in Abu Dhabi with a brilliant win.
Prost, who won four world titles himself, breaks down how 2024 played out: “We saw Verstappen dominating early on, then McLaren made this amazing comeback, and Ferrari grabbed some wins too.”
But here’s the thing – keeping that intensity up for 24 race weekends is really tough.
“You’ve got to be super consistent and basically perfect all year long,” Prost says. “That’s not easy when you’re racing almost every other weekend.”
The French racing icon thinks we’ve gone too far with the number of races. “Even 17 or 18 races felt like too much back in my day,” he admits.
What’s interesting is what Prost would rather see instead: more testing days. He thinks it’s better for everyone – especially young drivers who need real track time, not just simulator practice.
“It gives sponsors more quality time too,” he points out. “Right now, everything’s just rushed from race to race.”
The debate about F1’s packed calendar isn’t going away anytime soon. But when you’ve got both current champions and racing legends saying it’s too much, maybe it’s time to listen.
