Verstappen jokes about Red Bull contract and F1's 24-race calendar

At a press conference in Brazil, Max Verstappen joked that his Red Bull contract said nothing about whether there were 17, 18 or 24 races when it came to payment, adding that the matter might be worth looking at. He would prefer fewer than 24 races a year, he said, though he understands why Formula 1 has that many.

The current F1 calendar has 24 races per year, compared with about 17 per season 10 to 15 years earlier. The Brazil discussion also raised whether that schedule is too much for drivers and staff, particularly with late-season triple-headers.

At 18, Verstappen said he thought he would race every weekend. Now, he says, missing his family when he is away is the calendar's biggest downside. They can sometimes travel with him, but he is still working and spending much time together is not always easy.