The longest Formula 1 season to ever be held is coming to a close at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. And in the wake of this long and tiresome season, a trio of key F1 figures; Max Verstappen, Christian Horner, and Andrea Stella—has emerged united against the grueling demands of the sport’s relentless travel schedule. Their collective stand sheds light on the pressing need to address the challenges posed by Formula 1’s punishing itinerary.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that it’s been a hectic set of weeks in Formula 1. Jet lag is not a stranger to drivers, accustomed to traversing time zones with each Grand Prix. However, the recent spectacle in Las Vegas presented a unique challenge. The time zone difference plus the late scheduling of the race added an extra workload for teams and drivers alike.

Max Verstappen voices his concerns over having such a long F1 season

Drawing parallels with the approach to the Singapore Grand Prix, where teams adapt to the time zone difference by staying on European time, the situation in Vegas proved much trickier. Unlike Singapore, drivers couldn’t succumb to jet lag due to the race’s late timing. Instead, they found themselves grappling with a surreal sleep schedule to be at their peak performance when the track action began.

During the driver’s conference in Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen spoke about this struggle. The 26-year-old Red Bull Racing driver emphasized the oddity of being on the other side of the world. When asked about how he is coping with all the traveling, Max Verstappen said, “Yeah, it’s a bit tough to understand what time zone that you’re in. It’s a little bit odd that we are on the other side of the world. Basically, before getting here, and especially when you’re talking about sustainability. It’s probably not very sustainable, not only for the emissions but also for the human body. Of course, eventually, we always deal with it, but I don’t think it’s great.”

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Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, echoed Verstappen’s sentiments during the team representatives conference on Friday. Horner characterized the recent stretch of five races in six weeks as “brutal.” When asked about the tired group in the team, especially the mechanics, Horner said, “It’s been a pretty brutal regime. When you look at the last… This is five races in six weeks. So for the mechanics in the garage, [and] for the traveling staff, it is a brutal end to the season. Of course, that’s a little accentuated by the time difference… We were effectively working in the Japanese time zone in Vegas, and then a 12-hour swing to come here. So it’s something that’s been raised with Formula 1 and the FIA.”

Even McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella weighed in on the matter, aligning with Verstappen and Horner. Stella acknowledged the toll on the team, emphasizing the need for a constructive dialogue with Formula 1 to identify areas of improvement. Andrea Stella said, “Yeah, definitely has been a tough event for the staff, for everyone. I think there’s some takeaway, even for us as a team, for instance, in terms of what we can adjust to cope with this kind of fatigue. But at the same time, we need to have a dialogue with F1 to make sure that what can be improved, is improved.”

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Amidst the growing concerns about the demanding schedule, Max Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen found themselves at the center of heated arguments.

Verstappen slams back at Kevin Magnussen for his candid opinion

The Dutch driver openly criticized the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the spectacle surrounding it last week. He drew attention to what he perceived as more of a show than racing. However, not everyone appreciated Max Verstappen’s outspoken stance.

Fellow racer Kevin Magnussen voiced his disapproval, suggesting that the Dutchman should keep his opinions to himself. Magnussen, addressing the criticism, remarked, “It’s fine to have an opinion, but maybe you should keep it to yourself.”

However, the Red Bull driver didn’t take kindly to the advice. In response to the Haas driver’s comments, the Dutchman asserted that everyone in the sport has the right to express their opinions. Verstappen, in an interview with The Telegraph, emphasized, “It’s always very easy to say: ‘You can’t complain. Look how much money you make. Who gives a f**k about how much money you make? It’s about saying what you think and what you think is right or is necessary to take care of the sport.“

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The 2024 season is going to be even longer, with 24 races planned for the calendar. Do you think F1 should pay heed to the comments made by Max, Christian, and Andrea Stella? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.