Max Verstappen thinks one of many worst issues about Formulation 1 is its annual race calendar.
When requested by Sport Bild to call one factor concerning the sport that makes “no sense” to him, the triple world champion answered: “The variety of races.
“The calendar is way too full,” the Crimson Bull driver added. “24 grands prix are an imposition on everybody who’s a part of the paddock. 17 or 18 can be a superb quantity.”
Crimson Bull crew advisor Dr Helmut Marko doesn’t agree.
“It doesn’t trouble me a lot,” the 81-year-old Austrian instructed Osterreich newspaper. “I can chill out splendidly on lengthy flights.”
There isn’t any doubt, nonetheless, that 2024 has been an intense season for Verstappen, 27. Crimson Bull has been marred by in-fighting and declining efficiency, triggering fixed rumours that he would possibly even resolve to leap ship.
When requested how typically he thinks about his future, Verstappen instructed Bild: “By no means, truly.
“I’m pleased with what I’m doing now and I need to preserve doing it. I’m not in search of a change. That’s why all of the hypothesis is pointless. I’m the one who finally has to resolve.
“And for the time being I don’t see any want for motion.”
Nonetheless, Marko has admitted on a number of events that Verstappen’s profitable contract via 2028 comprises exit clauses.
When requested about them by Sport Bild, the Dutch driver answered: “I do know precisely what’s in my contract and what choices there are. It’s my responsibility to know that. You must by no means signal one thing in case you don’t know what you’re signing.
“However I typically don’t speak about my contract in public.”
Though his automobile is now not the favorite, Verstappen continues to be main the drivers’ standings by 47 factors over Lando Norris, with the pair’s off-track friendship coming below rising pressure as they conflict on monitor.
Verstappen denies McLaren’s Norris is his ’hardest opponent’.
“Lando is an excellent driver,” he stated, “however there isn’t one huge rival who makes my life hell. The groups are too shut to one another for it to at all times be a one-on-one battle.
“Each weekend is completely different,” added Verstappen. “Some automobiles work higher on some tracks than others. It’s the identical with drivers.”
Sport Bild puzzled, nonetheless, if Verstappen can be sleeping extra restlessly at night time if Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri was his important title rival, because the younger Australian is taken into account to have ’stronger nerves’.
“No,” Verstappen insisted. “I at all times sleep properly.”